https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kon...-asian-football-has-long-way-go-become-worlds South China Morning Post actually bothered to write a piece about this rather pathetic tournament.
It's laughable that clubs from certain federations have to play more matches to reach the inter-zone play-off semi-finals. I understand why AFC decided to split the groups the way they did, seeing as most clubs in this competition, particularly those in the East are still run as semi-professional clubs and don't have the financial capacity for frequent long distance travel. I think AFC can revamp the groups in the following ways: - Combine EAFF and AFF into one zone and similarly, - Combine CAFF and SAFF into one zone For an example, we currently have one group for CAFF teams, and one for SAFF teams. Instead, AFC can mix things up, with 2 CAFF teams and 2 SAFF teams in each group. Both of these zones, as well as the group for EAFF zone have always had two teams from the same association in the same group ever since this format was implemented, and this is a complete farce as it severely dilutes the groups.
Agreed. By my count, an ASEAN club going all the way to the final will have played 15 matches (from group stage onward). Clubs in all other zones will only play 11 matches. Have ASEAN clubs made known how unbalanced that is? I would revert the format to at least the one before this ridiculous version (last played 2016) – four groups each of west and east.
Yes, I think this is what everyone wants to see. It seems that, unlike the Champions League, AFC does not provide prize money for wins and draws in the group stages of the AFC Cup, and teams are given a reduced travel subsidy. In the Champions League, teams get $50,000 per win and $10,000 per every draw in the group stage, and a $60,000 travel subsidy per match. In the AFC Cup on the other hand, teams are provided $40,000 travel subsidy per match and nothing else for the play-offs and group stage matches. Only the zonal champions ($100,000), runners-up ($750,000) and champions ($1.5 million) are eligible to win any prize money. For reference: http://www.the-afc.com/competitions...reases-prize-money-for-2018-club-competitions So AFC needs to start providing prize money for group stage matches to give the teams more incentive to get results. With the current format, only the teams that finish top of their groups in some zones get the chance to progress to the knockout stages, and many teams field weakened sides in the last two or three matchdays of the group stage when they mathematically lose the chance to do so. AFC's task is pretty simple here; revise the procedure to distribute prize money, and revert the competition back to the pre-2017 format.
Agreed. By my count, an ASEAN club going all the way to the final will have played 15 matches (from group stage onward). Clubs in all other zones will only play 11 matches.
is pretty simple here; revise the procedure to distribute prize money, and revert the competition back to the pre-2017 format
AFC Cup final to be played in Shanghai The AFC Cup 2019 final between 4.25 SC and Al Ahed – originally slated to be played in Pyongyang on November 2 – will now be held in Shanghai. With the hosts of the AFC Cup final alternating each year between the West Asia Zone champions and inter-zone champions, 4.25 – as the latter – are the designated hosts for this year’s decider. However, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Tuesday that the final will now be played in Shanghai, kicking off at 5pm local time with the exact stadium to be confirmed. “Due to the existing sanctions in place affecting DPR Korea, the AFC has been advised by its Commercial Rights Partners of the challenges in enabling among other matters, the production and broadcast delivery of the Final match, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the AFC’s club calendar,” said a statement on the AFC’s official website. Well, at least we can guarantee that the final will not be censored.
And today the AFC announced that the match will be moved (again), this time to Kuala Lumpur. This match is going to be more bizarre than the last Copa Libertadores final.
4.25 SC 0-1 Al Ahed Lebanon's Al Ahed have won the 2019 AFC Cup after beating their North Korean opponents 4.25 SC in Kuala Lumpur. 4.25 SC had a player sent off in the 26th minute. This means that since the tournament's inception in 2004, only one side from the East Zone (Johor DT in 2015) have so far managed to win it, and that was only after both Kuwaiti sides got kicked out of the semis that year after the Kuwait FA got suspended.