The arab football association, UAFA, and television network ART have announced the introduction of a new club tournament: the UAFA champions league. This tournament will replace the existing arabian club tournaments. The first edition of the tournament is tabled to begin in October. 32 teams compete in a home and away format similar to it's european namesake. ART have the exclusive TV rights. ----- prize money: Winner, 6 million Saudi Riyals Runner up, 4 million 3rd place, 2.5 million 4th place, 1.5 million (1 US Dollar = 3.75 Saudi Riyals) ------ No details as yet on who participates or the precise format. I have heard that part of the deal gives ART the right to choose 3 "wildcard" teams, but I'm not too convinced about that.
Mario, Yeah the prize money is massive by regional standards. I guess ART (they're pretty much in charge: They finance it, market it, and to a certain extent manage it) wants to insure the tournament's success by making it lucrative enough for the teams to take it seriously. It has to be; Arabic tournaments haven't been taken seriously in the past.
ok... more info on the tournament: participants: * Saudi and Egypt, 3 teams each (6 total) * top 8 of the rest in FIFA rankings, 2 each (16 total) * rest, 1 team each (7 total) * leaving 3 wildcards [note 1] tournament format: * first round: home and away knockout. The 16 winners qualify to... * second round: 4 groups of 4 in home and away format. Winners and runners up qualify to... * third round: 2 groups of 4 in home and away format. Winners and runners up qualify to... *Semifinals: home and away knockout * Final: single leg knockout. [note 2] Notes: [1]: no indication on how they're chosen. Some say ART invites them. [2]: Issue not finalised. What's being put forward is a euro champions league style final where the host is pre-determined. ie. Venue is not neccessarily neutral.
They made the draw in Beirut today.... Round 1 Asian section: 1. alHilal (KSA) v alJaish (SYR) 2. aZawra (IRQ) v alAqsa (PAL) 3. alWehdat (JOR) v Olympique (LEB) 4. alAhli (KSA) v alQadessia (KUW) 5. alKuwait (KUW) v aRifaa (BAH) 6. alFaisaly (JOR) v aNassr (OMN) 7. alIttihad (KSA) v alIttihad (SYR) 8. aTalaba (IRQ) v Shaab Ibb (YEM) African section: 1. alAhly (EGY) v Hassania Agadir (MAR) 2. alIsmaeely (EGY) v Mawludia Oran (ALG) 3. aZamalek (EGY) v aRiyadi (MRT) 4. Sfaxien (TUN) v Ahli Benghazi (LIB) 5. Esperance (TUN) v alHilal (SUD) 6. Ittihad Blida (ALG) v Maghribi. Fez (MAR) 7. Etoile Sahel (TUN) v Ittihad Tripoli (LIB) 8. alMareekh (SUD) v Nassr Hussein-dey (ALG) Games are home and away. Winner goes on to group stage.