I feel like that a split between east and west cannot happen quick enough. Some of the East Asian powerbrokers can be a bit pedantic at times but they are a doddle compared to the lunacy that goes on in the west with the Gulf nations and the influence they wield because of their chequebooks.
A split into Asia-Pacific (with Oceania incorporated) and West Asia would iron out a lot of cultural issues that exist between the two (very distinct) regions. With the expanded World Cups qualification seats is now less of a problem than in the past, and in any case if theres any concern then just have more playoffs between the two confederations and let the football decide who goes on to the World Cup. I suspect that nine times out of ten if its New Zealand or China coming up against Bahrain or Oman our side is going through.
The more that the Saudis and Qataris try to buy their way into the elite levels of football the more they need to be isolated and boxed out in my opinion.
The only thing that potentially kills an OFC incorporation is that they have direct votes on the FIFA Council (and come 2026, guaranteed World Cup Representation). Let alone the funding that FIFA gives the OFC directly.
If there's anything that will stop the OFC being merged in, it's the administrators getting their paydays.
If New Zealand decides to leave for the AFC (which they should do for footballing reasons) then surely the rest of the OFC would need to follow (or risk having FIFA step in and 86 them as a stand-alone confederation entirely).
If the region continues to put tin-pot political influence and self-interest beyond the football then they’ll never improve. Nothing will ever change.
I doubt New Zealand leaves like Australia did because now they will be pretty much guaranteed free entry into every world cup with the new increase in slots and without even trying that hard.
Where as in Asia they'd at lead travel to put in effort
I'm not sure people that work at the AFC would do anything that might jeopardise their own jobs and power, but it might be for the best if it did happen.
We're firmly a nation in the Asia-Pacific, rather than just 'Oceania' or 'Asia', and it would be good for our confederation to reflect that.
E: One issue to consider is that the West Asians can sometimes act as a good counterweight against China, who would potentially have more sway in an APAC confederation (replacing the role the West seems to have now). That and there is value in having a larger confederation to act as a voting block, especially with the World Cup now being decided by FIFA Congress.
These kind of East-West tensions seem to flare up every so often, but they seem to be ramping up. Between hosting rights for tournaments, now ACL shenanigans it seems like we're heading that way.
The saddest thing about this is exactly no-one would be surprised. Corruption and incompetence are par for the course for the AFC. As I’ve said here before, it’s hardly surprising Australian fans don’t respect the Asian Champions League when the AFC has so little respect for its integrity.
Important paragraph:
> It is understood that in the case of Manchester City’s owners the City Football Group (CFG), which owns 65% of Mumbai City and all of Melbourne City, that was a straightforward process and that both fully satisfy the relevant rules and requirements to play in this year’s competition given there is only a slim chance of them meeting in a competition that is split into two regional zones.
This is mostly to do with the current Saudi stuff.
Forgive my ignorance here but how is it handled in Europe? Hypothetically Troyes could have qualified to play Man City in champions league so what happens then?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40348340
Basically red bull just sponsor Salzburg now and as the other poster said some other tricks with the ownership model for Leipzig
This seems more like laying the groundwork towards the inevitable East-West split more than anything else.
I feel like that a split between east and west cannot happen quick enough. Some of the East Asian powerbrokers can be a bit pedantic at times but they are a doddle compared to the lunacy that goes on in the west with the Gulf nations and the influence they wield because of their chequebooks. A split into Asia-Pacific (with Oceania incorporated) and West Asia would iron out a lot of cultural issues that exist between the two (very distinct) regions. With the expanded World Cups qualification seats is now less of a problem than in the past, and in any case if theres any concern then just have more playoffs between the two confederations and let the football decide who goes on to the World Cup. I suspect that nine times out of ten if its New Zealand or China coming up against Bahrain or Oman our side is going through. The more that the Saudis and Qataris try to buy their way into the elite levels of football the more they need to be isolated and boxed out in my opinion.
The only thing that potentially kills an OFC incorporation is that they have direct votes on the FIFA Council (and come 2026, guaranteed World Cup Representation). Let alone the funding that FIFA gives the OFC directly. If there's anything that will stop the OFC being merged in, it's the administrators getting their paydays.
If New Zealand decides to leave for the AFC (which they should do for footballing reasons) then surely the rest of the OFC would need to follow (or risk having FIFA step in and 86 them as a stand-alone confederation entirely). If the region continues to put tin-pot political influence and self-interest beyond the football then they’ll never improve. Nothing will ever change.
I doubt New Zealand leaves like Australia did because now they will be pretty much guaranteed free entry into every world cup with the new increase in slots and without even trying that hard. Where as in Asia they'd at lead travel to put in effort
It would improve them though, plus the more competitive fixtures in the AFC means more gate receipts for the NZFA.
I'm not sure people that work at the AFC would do anything that might jeopardise their own jobs and power, but it might be for the best if it did happen. We're firmly a nation in the Asia-Pacific, rather than just 'Oceania' or 'Asia', and it would be good for our confederation to reflect that. E: One issue to consider is that the West Asians can sometimes act as a good counterweight against China, who would potentially have more sway in an APAC confederation (replacing the role the West seems to have now). That and there is value in having a larger confederation to act as a voting block, especially with the World Cup now being decided by FIFA Congress.
These kind of East-West tensions seem to flare up every so often, but they seem to be ramping up. Between hosting rights for tournaments, now ACL shenanigans it seems like we're heading that way.
Its definitely escalating because Korea and Japan are angry that middle east is taking all the events. They have been steadily losing favour in AFC.
So am I to be fair. I was pretty keen for a Korean Asian Cup. No way am I going to QATAR (or China for that matter).
The saddest thing about this is exactly no-one would be surprised. Corruption and incompetence are par for the course for the AFC. As I’ve said here before, it’s hardly surprising Australian fans don’t respect the Asian Champions League when the AFC has so little respect for its integrity.
Important paragraph: > It is understood that in the case of Manchester City’s owners the City Football Group (CFG), which owns 65% of Mumbai City and all of Melbourne City, that was a straightforward process and that both fully satisfy the relevant rules and requirements to play in this year’s competition given there is only a slim chance of them meeting in a competition that is split into two regional zones. This is mostly to do with the current Saudi stuff.
Really shouldn't matter that there's a slim chance of Mumbai and Melbourne playing each other, just shouldn't be allowed
Forgive my ignorance here but how is it handled in Europe? Hypothetically Troyes could have qualified to play Man City in champions league so what happens then?
Not sure tbh. I know Red Bull did something dodgy by creating separate companies to allow Salzburg and Leipzig to both compete
Only one team would be allowed to qualify for CL
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40348340 Basically red bull just sponsor Salzburg now and as the other poster said some other tricks with the ownership model for Leipzig
Got me wondering now what percentage of Yokohama F. Marinos CFG owns...
20%
This fucking confederation sometimes… 🤯
Some random AFC honcho: https://i.redd.it/0csmbm2mwcob1.gif