The present Asian Champions League is “unsustainable”, the worldwide footballers’ union FIFPRO stated in a report Monday, accusing the regional governing physique of failing to hearken to gamers and golf equipment.
The continent’s prime membership competitors is within the highlight like by no means earlier than after Saudi groups shelled out on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema.
The spherical of 16 started on Tuesday final week, three days after the ultimate of the Asian Cup, which was gained by hosts Qatar.
The Asian Soccer Confederation is chargeable for each competitions, which span an enormous space from Australia to the Center East and Central Asia.
The present Champions League is cut up into two zones, “West” and “East”, till a two-legged closing dwelling and away.
Beginning within the subsequent marketing campaign, there will even be a geographical cut up at first of the event, however the quarter-finals, semi-finals and closing might be held in Saudi Arabia.
FIFPRO stated this remodelled model, which can see the winner take dwelling an elevated cheque of $12 million, was additionally unsustainable.
Takuya Yamazaki, FIFPRO’s chairman for Oceania-Asia, hopes its report will “spark significant discussions with governing our bodies, leagues, golf equipment and followers” in regards to the Champions League.
“The outcomes point out that, as anticipated, the deserves don’t outweigh the drawbacks for many gamers and golf equipment, making it an unsustainable system,” he stated within the report.
FIFPRO accused the AFC of adopting “a top-down method that excludes the voices of gamers and golf equipment from decision-making”.
It referred to as on the AFC to forge “a real partnership with gamers, golf equipment and leagues to make sure that the competitors delivers for all events”.
Amongst its conclusions, the 49-page report stated that the common high quality of groups within the Champions League was inferior to the highest home divisions in Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
It stated the common high quality of the competitors was additionally happening.
FIFPRO additionally voiced concern in regards to the financial price for groups, given the lengthy journey typically concerned, and the impact of journey and match scheduling on the workload of gamers.
AFP has contacted the Kuala Lumpur-based AFC for remark.
AFP
