A decade ago the idea of Australian clubs playing in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul in Asia's most prestigious club competition was a distant and elusive dream.

Isolated in Oceania and struggling in a semi-professional environment, Australian clubs craved the international exposure and higher competition in FIFA’s most populous confederation.

Spin the clock forward to 2007 and the dream turned into an instant reality when Sydney FC and Adelaide United became our inaugural entrants in the AFC Asian Champions League.

In just the second season, Adelaide United went all the way to the final against the J-League powerhouse Gamba Osaka.

This season Brisbane Roar will become the sixth Australian club to qualify for the ACL and will experience the football, cultural and logistical challenge.

Given that historical background, it's more than a little surprising to read that participation in the 2012 AFC Champions League being questioned.

The so-called "horror" draw for the Mariners is an unfortunate fact of life when the Hyundai A-League and ACL have overlapping seasons. Clubs in Japan, South Korea and China have been dealing with this for years and now it's happening to our clubs.

Playing three games in a week is the price of success. Clubs must deal with not only the rigours of playing, but also the rigours of travel. The better the team, the heavier the burden. Look how Barcelona and Manchester United cram around 60 matches into 10 months every year.

With the increase in squad size (30 players) for clubs participating in the ACL, not only can a club have seven more players on their list, but contract regulations for the ACL allow players to be brought in specifically for the extra exertions teams must undergo to perform in this prestigious competition.

While the Mariners may question the scheduling of matches, it’s worth noting that FFA made strong representations to the Asian Football Confederation on behalf of all three Australian clubs in this year’s ACL.

We pride ourselves on growing and developing as a full-time, professional league. To be taken seriously, players will at times, as they do in leagues around the world, have to be managed through intense periods of domestic and international competition.

In the case presented by Central Coast Mariners last weekend, a change of fixture is made impossible not only by the need for fairness to each other club involved (Wellington and Perth), but also to venue availability (Westpac Stadium in Wellington unavailable) and pre-planning of travel options (travel from China to Perth shorter than direct return to Central Coast, allowing two full days to prepare following travel).

In addition, we explored potential rescheduling of Hyundai A-League games with opponents and stadium managers. In the end, there was no flexibility, given the multitude of stakeholders in both the ACL and Hyundai A-League – opponents, TV broadcasters, sponsors, stadiums and fans.

FFA meticulously plans every season’s fixture list and seeks input from every club in order to finalise the best possible outcomes equitably and without prejudice. This season’s fixtures were roundly praised by all from fans to media and the clubs themselves.

FFA encourages clubs, coaches, players and fans should to embrace the opportunity to compete in the ACL, playing football at the highest international level that Asia has on offer.

Rather than dwell upon the inconveniences imposed by distance and overlapping fixtures, we should rejoice that we are part of a club competition that encompasses half the world’s population and the fastest growing football region on the planet.

The recent transfer of Nicolas Anekla to Shanghai Shenhua should open our eyes to where Asian football and ACL is heading. We want to be part of the evolution and I’m sure every Hyundai A-League wants to be part of it, too.

 
Comments (12)
 
Yeah great - A-League teams are in the ACL. The way the non-existaent promotion of the league by the ACL, the FFA and the Clubs is a disgrace. Don't be suprised, and moreover, don't whinge if the crowds are really poor for these fixtures. You have to let the public know the matches are coming to get people there to the games.
Roarfan2012  |  
28 Jan 2012 12:30 PM
 
 
Could I suggest that you be a little more circumspect in your statements? A couple of examples “…it's more than a little surprising to read that participation in the 2012 AFC Champions League being questioned.” The questions that I have heard being asked publicly by Graham Arnold are around scheduling not participation. A summary of your opinion piece could be “Get used to it.” However in a similar manner, in which every footballer or person can improve, so can the scheduling and support to the clubs that make up the league. Hence statements such as “This season’s fixtures were roundly praised by all from fans to media and the clubs themselves.” are misleading as I am a fan and I did not praise the schedule, thus a more accurate statement would be “This season’s fixtures were roundly praised by the majority, from fans to media and the clubs themselves.” You will never please everybody. Additionally it is possible that greater support can be provided to the teams by strategy to deal with the travel involved in the ACL. Perhaps you could outline the support that has been or will be provided to the clubs in terms of play recovery when travelling strategies. I am looking forward to the ACL final being between two Australian clubs and participation in the ACL is not a realization of a dream only a step along the way.
Diplomat  |  
25 Jan 2012 10:56 PM
 
 
Agree wholeheartedly with Australian Football's post. For example, Central coast play on the Sunday the 3rd of March and then play in Tianjin on the 6th. The Sunday game could have been moved to Saturday the 2nd or even Friday evening on the 1st. I find it hard to believe that some kind of fixture change could not have been made and FFA are stubbornly sticking to their original fixture list. After all, we all want Aussie clubs to do well in the ACL and they don't need to be humstrung by FFA's views on this issue.(Though I do think FFA have done a lot more things right this season that in recent seasons and applaud them for that).
Kit  |  
25 Jan 2012 07:37 PM
 
 
lets face it people, as good as the A-Leagiue is and as far as it has come from the NSL days, there is still a long way to go. i can't stand the fact that clubs here complain about scheduling, it's rather pathetic ... if the club doesn't like it then move aside for another Aussie team to go! or give up your spot in Asia ... it doesn't look good to other Asian countries that we complain, afterall, if it wasn't for them accepting Australia into Asia and better competion both domestically and for the nation team, we would still be playing Solomon Islands! don't forget that! ... to the Aussie clubs, SUCK IT UP! this is the price of success domestically ... don't get me wrong, i want to see the A-League be the major code in Australia! it is possible for that to happen! ... what next? will the clubs complain if there was an FA cup competition introduced too? sheeesh! ... one thing that would help work loads of clubs would be to allow them to tap more into the State Leagues ... there are plenty of solid and potential players in them! each club should have a max of 10 extra players on their lists that are from these leagues, so coaches can rest their stars/key players" for Asian football ... i'm sure they would play a game here and there for free or little money as for the State League player, it's about exposure for them .. there is always more than one way to skin a cat! .. just my thoughts
Ingmar  |  
25 Jan 2012 05:26 PM
 
 
Having witnessed the ACL for the past few seasons, I'm not that sure that it is a viable competition. I've been to most of Victory's ACL home games, and although the standard of play has been excellent, the lack of interest in the competition by the general public is underwhelming. I saw a fantastic game against Gambo Osaka (score 3-4) which had about 20000 there but crowds have steadily dropped to the stage where only the first level at Etihad was open to spectators. The last game I saw had a crowd of about 4000 only and again was a fantastic game. Despite the quality of play, the public interest has steadily declined and must be costing clubs to participate in these games. Attendences in Korea have also been poor with only the Japanese appearing to support the ACL. If A-League teams are going to make money in the ACL and raise the profile of Australian soccer (football) in Asia, we need to have full stadiums and highly competitive teams. New ideas and promotion strategies need to be trialled and if they still fail to raise interest, we forgo our involvement in the ACL and focus our energies and money on developing a stronger A-League. I've been saying for a while that admission prices need to be carefully examined and we need to realise that the A-League and ACL require good crowds, financial rewards will follow from sponsorship and extra media coverage that automatically follow when stadiums are full. We also need to allow each team which has qualified for the ACL to get short term contracts for three or four top quality players in each of the sides in order to be competitive, raise the standard and cope with the demands of the domestic league simultaneously.
topcatjim  |  
25 Jan 2012 05:09 PM
 
 
Lyall, I don't believe that the A-League fixture was as 'roundly praised' as you suggest. Melbourne Heart, for example, have a completely lop-sided fixture, including one match scheduled at 3.00 p.m. on a Wednesday (solely for the benefit of TV) and then three home games in a period of 7 days. We now lose three of our starting XI for national duty at a critical time in the season. We're not involved with the ACL, but I sympathise with the clubs who are. We simply MUST reschedule A-League games where there are conflicts that may very well affect the outcome of the league. In Europe they do it - why not here? And what is the problem with extending the season to accommodate any rescheduled matches?
jonny  |  
25 Jan 2012 03:45 PM
 
 
Without squad depth (quality not quantity) our participation in both ALeague and ACL is a joke. The option of bringing in the best of the other clubs to play for Roar in ACL is fine if we are still in the ACL when our season is over. I'd love to see Harry K, Brett E, and Sass O playing for Roar if we are still alive after the A-League has finished
Dave  |  
24 Jan 2012 09:23 PM
 
 
Talking of Manchester United and Barcelona - how do you think these clubs would get on in the ECL if their respective leagues hamstrung them with salary caps? If we want to play big-boys' football then the clubs need to have all the real power.
Geoff  |  
24 Jan 2012 07:32 PM
 
 
Well tell your mate Graham Arnold next time he is at your place for a Sunday roast to stop whinging and accept his teams schedule just like all the clubs have in the past. Instead of of already making excuses for failing to win the championship and qualify out of the group stages. Will I eat my words .... Doubt it Will any mariner supporter bite to my post .... Hope so
Mick  |  
24 Jan 2012 06:14 PM
 
 
absolutely agree Lyall the league is growing and that means more games and in more places Go Aussie Go thats what I say
wallyman  |  
24 Jan 2012 05:24 PM
 
 
ACL football should be the most important league to every Australian football supporter. Onwards and upwards I say...
Australian Football  |  
24 Jan 2012 03:09 PM
 
 
Lyall what team in the A League can afford the pay 15 let alone 30 players of enough quality to match it with the best teams in asia? The draw was widley accepted by the fans and teams before the ACL draws were announced, the best teams in Europe have no problems of re-organising games should they fall to close to league games. where is the flexibility in the A League? You claim to say that you have to bend to the wishes of the TV programmers, Sponsors and fans but no fan wants to se sub standard Football, No TV programmer would see the sence of Airing a below par programe. Please stop trying to justify your incorrect stance and listen to the teams and fans. with out them you have no league.
Jim  |  
24 Jan 2012 02:45 PM
 
Poll
Who is the most valuable player in the Hyundai A-League right now?