14 May 2007(Mon)

May 11, 2007: What will the AFC think of next?

Their attitude towards the visit of Manchester United to Asia in general and Malaysia in particular is another low point for the AFC – standing, of course, for Asian Football Confederation; although, in this case, Another Football Calamity might be more appropriate.

They do not want Manchester United to come to Asia in July because they want everyone to focus on the Asian Cup, even though three of their destinations, Japan, South Korea and Macau-China, are not hosting the Asian Cup.

They think it is disrespectful to Asia, despite the fact United have millions of fans in this part of the world and have actually turned people on to the game of football.

I would like to think AFC have a strong point and deserve support, but then I turn up for the AFC Champions League game at Todoroki between Frontale and Arema Malang and see that the Indonesians have brought only 12 players – and the lone sub on the bench is a goalkeeper!

This is despite the fact clubs could register as many as 30 players in their provisional squad, and have 20 on the team sheet for any group game.

It was a farce to see this, and also to hear that a 13th player should have turned up at the airport back home but failed to arrive and was not answering his mobile phone. Perhaps he was watching Manchester United on TV.

So the AFC have enough of their own problems to tackle without turning on Manchester United, who cannot be blamed for being a massive global sporting success (note the lack of the word "brand" here, folks).

If they do not want United in Malaysia two days before the Asian Cup final in Jakarta on July 29, why should they allow Zinedine Zidane to visit Indonesia from July 6-8? Won't everyone be talking about his World Cup final headbutt and not the start of the Asian Cup on July 7?

And why should they allow Reading to play in Seoul, and Liverpool, Pompey and Fulham to play in Hong Kong, all in July?

Can't they try and ban them, too, as Asian fans will be distracted from the Asian Cup.

The AFC make me laugh, although it is too serious to laugh, really. After all, their annual awards have lost credibility, and the AFC Youth Player of the Year for 2006 went to China's Ma Xiaoxu, an 18-year-old Chinese girl who also won Female Player of the Year. Readers know I support the women's game, but this is just so PC (Politically Correct) it is absolutely PC (Plain Crazy).

What will happen this year? A futsal player being named Asian Player of the Year?

Do not bet against it.

ends