Osim sows the seeds for FIFA World Premier League
November 8, 2005 -- JEF United's manager, Ivica Osim, had some interesting (as always) things to say after his team's victory over Gamba Osaka in the Nabisco Cup final.
He questioned the value of winning the Nabisco Cup, as success gave the club nothing except prizemoney.
He was comparing the Nabisco Cup with a cup competition in Europe, where victory in the domestic cup final guaranteed the winners a place in the UEFA Cup the following season.
The UEFA Cup, of course, is Europe's second-tier club competition, and a big step down from the more lucrative and glamorous UEFA Champions League.
But, still, the prospect of European football is a big incentive to do well in the domestic cup competitions.
In his comments to the Kyodo News agency after the Nabisco Cup final, Osim suggested the winners of the Nabisco Cup should be allowed to play in the UEFA Cup next season.
It seems like he was joking, of course, because how can a Japanese club play in Europe?
Impossible, right?
Well, Kazakhstan switched from Asia to Europe not too long back, and Australia will switch from Oceania to Asia.
If Europe was looking for more money -- and everyone is in football these days -- would it be possible for them to invite a Japanese club to play in the UEFA Champions League, or the UEFA Cup. Think of the TV rights, the marketing and the ticket sales...
The travel and the schedule would be very difficult, of course, and Asia's governing body would probably not allow it.
But, who knows in the future, the UEFA Champions League could eventually produce a FIFA World Premier League. Perhaps 12 teams in total, with matches scheduled between domestic league and European cup fixtures and replacing dates in the FIFA calendar reserved for friendly internationals, which are becoming more and more troublesome.
Yes, I know the concept sounds far-fetched and impractical, but the football world is getting smaller, and new ideas are needed to satisfy the worldwide demand.
The FIFA World Premier League...mmm, sounds pretty good to me.
As does JEF United against Barcelona at Ichihara Rinkai Stadium on a wet and windy Wednesday night in November.
How many times would Ronaldinho get past his marker, the excellent and unheralded Saito, in a competitive match like that!
Maybe Osim is on to something after all.
ends
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