Before the Syrian government started to bombard the civilian population in the city, Homs was better known by Asian soccer fans as the home of Al-Karamah – a tricky customer that lost the two-legged final of the 2006 Asian Champions League to Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea. A Motors official described that journey from east to west with the weary relish of a soldier returning home from a long campaign. Jeonju to Seoul to Dubai (an 11-hour flight) to Damascus and to Homs involved two flights, two bus journeys, and took over 24 hours. Two days later, they did it all in reverse, though at least this time, they had the trophy, too. All this was sandwiched between two domestic K-league fixtures on the weekends before and after the game.
THINKING NORTH-SOUTH
CONCACAF's recently announced 2013's Champions League will see another format change, highlighting the confederation's continued struggle to establish its marquee tournament. With next year's competition set to feature eight, three-team groups (instead of four, four-team ones), fans will continue to debate possible panacea, including the idea of CONCACAF's best taking part in Copa Libertadores.
With a flight from New York to Buenos Aires approaching 11 hours, a North America-South America marriage would present many of the same problems facing the AFC. The logistics, expense, and time involved in a mid-week trip from Salt Lake City to Mendoza (650 miles west of Buenos Aires) are prohibitive. With most fans in each hemisphere unfamiliar with clubs in the other, it will be difficult to convince fans of the Godoy Cruzs of the world to care about Real Salt Lakes.
It's one thing to see the competitive value of North versus South. It's another to make it viable.
Asia continues to make a go of it. Both the product and interest-level are rising, though AFC's Champions League has one virtue a tournament of the Americas does not: One confederation. Before a true Americas Cup is possible, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL would need a meeting of the minds. Even if all other barriers were crossed, it's difficult to see how that alliance would come about.
The 2012 CONCACAF Champions League begins this week on FOX Soccer. Copa Libertadores' kicks off a massive week this Tuesday in Montevideo.
The Asian Champions League (2012's version starts March 6) provides a unique challenge for organizers as well as teams, and not long ago, some used to wonder whether it was all worth it. A few months before the final, Jeonbuk almost quit due to costs, both financial and temporal. Today, things have changed, and due to a massive increase in prize money and sizeable improvements in prestige and exposure, perhaps the competition these days really is (as the Asian Football Confederation claims) the second best club tournament in the world.
The format is certainly similar to the European one. After a short qualifying round, 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four with the top two going through to the second round. There are differences. The first four groups consist of teams from West Asia. The second four are from the east, sprinkled with Thailand and Australian representation. Central Asia, in the shape of Uzbekistan, has a team in each region. To limit crazy midweek trips, the two halves only come together at the quarterfinal stage.
How and where to hold the final has long been a problematic question. At various times in the past, it has been a home-and-away affair, a one-off game in a neutral location and, as it is at the moment, a single clash at the home of one of the finalists.
The biggest difference between the European version and its cousin that started as the Asian Champions Cup in 1967 is a big one indeed. UEFA’s coefficient rating, which determines how many teams each country is allowed to enter into the tournament, is based on how well its teams perform against the field. In Asia, it is all about standards off it. An evaluation team visits each country and grades a whole range of criteria from marketing, attendances, administration, stadiums, proximity of international airports to name just a few. Results in the competition itself don’t enter the equation.
Japan scores best while South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan also do well. Eleven nations (less than a quarter of all AFC members) make the grade, though Indonesia is granted one qualification spot. There is a second tier competition for the so-called ‘developing nations’ such as India, Kuwait, Vietnam and Bahrain.
The confederation makes no bones about the fact that the senior tournament is used as a carrot to entice such nations to improve their soccer scenes at all levels. The sheer size of Asia means that standards of professionalism vary wildly. As well as a place in the FIFA Club World Cup that is increasingly valued by coaches and players especially, access to the tournament is a powerful incentive to get one’s house in order. As mentioned above, Jeonbuk considered leaving due to the fact that travel expenses were not covered. In 2009 however, a revamp made the whole thing much more financially attractive with a total prize money pot of over $20 million.
It is hoped that such financial rewards will really help improve standards, but this is very much a work in progress, and barely a year passes without some issues. Even before the start of the 2012 tournament, there has been controversy, as Adelaide United was originally given a bye through qualification in 2012 were slotted against Persipura by the ruling courts. Persipura's domestic league (Indonesia Super League) is not recognized by FIFA, the AFC or anybody else. Though United won the match, reports surfaced that the victors fielded an ineligible player. Even four days before it was all due to start, there was still confusion over whether United had broken the rules.
An auspicious start to the new tournament it was not. The last one ended in some controversy, too. Current champion Al Sadd of Qatar was allowed in the 2011 edition only after a Vietnamese team failed to submit the correct documentation. Then the Doha boys were beaten in both legs of the quarterfinal by Sepahan but still progressed after it became clear that the Iranians had fielded an ineligible player.
But while Al Sadd annoyed fans in Iran, the team perhaps provided a glimpse into how to unlock the real obstacle that has hitherto prevented the tournament from becoming seriously big. This is not about administration or airports but passion. The real challenge is getting soccer fans in Asia to get into Asian soccer. How do you make fans in Japan and Korea, who have nothing in common with fans in Iran or Qatar, care about each other’s soccer teams?
Al Sadd made it happen, perhaps for the first time ever. Fresh from upsetting Iran and southeast Asia, they scored a hugely controversial goal in the semifinal first leg at Suwon Bluewings. With the Qataris 1-0 ahead, Suwon streamed forward in search of an equalizer. Putting the ball out of play for an injured player, the Korean team watched in shock as Al Sadd did not give the ball back but instead entered the opponent’s empty half and scored. One of the biggest brawls you will ever see ensued with fans, players and coaching staff involved.
Al Sadd, whose time wasting tactics when ahead had already become a thing of legend, became Al Badd, making headlines around the world. Then, the team returned to Korea for the final to defeat Jeonbuk on penalties in front of a full house of 42,000 - a fantastic atmosphere, and a final fit for any stage. Unfortunately, Al Sadd did not qualify for the 2012 version, but the team will long be guaranteed a warm welcome in certain parts of the continent when it does return.
Heroes and villains, faces familiar, feted and hated are what the tournament needs more of. A lot of work and money has been invested in giving Asia the framework of a top-tier tournament. Now it just needs the fans to give it a little love, or even hate, but give it something to make those 24-hour journeys worthwhile.
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