the current format is good but I think a neutral site for the final was better than giving one team the advantage. i think they should switch back to that.
Where would you play the neutral final given the fans of the finalists would only have two weeks to make arrangements? It would have to be a country that doesn't care about visa's, and it would have to be played more or less central unless the host was announced after the finalists had made it.
in the name of fairness thats what i think if you are going to have one single championship deciding match. otherwise make it two legs.
Hope there's nothing controversial. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/afc-champions-league/news/1127547/Aussie-officials-land-ACL-final-gig
Only two Arab teams have made the final since 2007 and one of the only two had to play the final at an away soil. Two of the last five finals were played over two legs, two other played at a neutral stadium, and one at a home stadium of a drawn host that was decided by a lottery. I don't know about you but those are hardly anything to cry over. Also, since when has either coin tossing or one legged final system been deemed unfair in sports? Randomly drawing a host is not a perfect system, but it certainly isn't an unfair one. With better results on the field, it would be Al Hilal who is hosting the final this weekend instead of Ulsan; where were your complaints when this draw was made back in the summer? I've watched the AFC Champions League when its final was two legged and they were not nearly as exciting as the finals of the last few years. A final--notice the word is singular--in this sport is meant to be played over one deciding match. How many cup finals can you name for this sport? Not many. Can you imagine how a two legged European Champions League final would play out? I doubt you can. Spreading a final over two games divides excitement meant for a single, two hour match to a length of a week (plus more), not to mention losing overall appeal to the neutral viewers; there are reasons why the newly introduced sponsors in the mid 2010's were so eagerly pushing for a change. Two legged final isn't an option. AFC tried neutral venues and it had a hard time drawing attendees so now they are onto randomly drawing a host team. AFC is going to experiment at least a few more years with the current system, and you most definitely won't see a change until the finals have spread around more to different countries. I like it as is and if I had to guess, the only way it changes is if one country keeps hosting the final; infinitely more probable reason for a change than it being 'unfair'. What's unfair is Arabs, or those living in a predominantly Arab region, complaining about not seeing enough finals when they have only managed to come up with two finalists out of a possible ten in the last five years. Taking the current format into consideration (which actually was only implemented a year ago), math says you will see a final every five years. You were off by one. Boo hoo.
There's been a West Asian team in every final since it went to one leg, that' what he said and that is the fact. You can't suddenly then change this from West Asian to Arab. Even the neutral finals was stupid, both played in Japan, why is it that any other competition AFC organise is played in West one edition and East the next but ACL wasn't. Think before you post again please.
Havent seen this article before... TV figures show significant growth in AFC Champions League viewership
So we have the final today..Ulsan are the clear favourites in all the scenarios..They know how to face a west asian team plus playing at home..Rafinha will be a trouble for Ahli defence and specially when there main defender is out plus one of the RB Mansour Harbi is suspended.. Ahli finally have a real test in ACL now..They did not travel beyond Iran on way to the finals.The team has always failed in playing in the east asia..Midfield is good along with striking pair is terrible ..If Ahli contains Ulsan in the midfieled then the game is all theres... My Prediction - Ulsan 3-0 Ahli
I would like to see them do what they are doing in the (US) MLS now, have the final played at the home of the team that has the best overall best record in the tournament. Ie, points/GD record from the group stage onwards... there would at least be some sort of fairness / methodology in a home "seeding" format as opposed to the open draw. Btw - what time does this game kick off at anyhoo, Saudi/Kuwait/Qatar time preferably?
Can korea just have an extra spot in the acl. Cause we clearly deserve it . Or atleast an afc cup place