13 Jul 2009(Mon)

July 11, 2009: It's good to see the JFA thinking about how to improve the Emperor's Cup, because it has been in need of a major facelift for several seasons.

The latest plan is for all 36 J.League teams to enter the tournament at the second-round stage, bringing the J2 teams in one round earlier than usual and the J1 teams two rounds earlier. A final decision on this move will be made on July 17, just a couple of months before the 89th edition starts in September.

Officials hope it will spark interest in the earlier rounds, setting up the possibility of giant-killing acts around the country, but cynics will counter that it gives the J.League teams more opportunity to be knocked out and start their holidays immediately the J.League season finishes -- December 5, four long weeks before the cup final on New Year's Day.

And this remains the main problem, the timing of the cup, tagged on to the end of the league season when everyone has had enough -- players and fans alike.

Players lack motivation and just want to take their holidays after reporting for pre-season training in January; managers are forced to pick players they have already told will be released at the end of their contracts; and foreign players want to go home or want to find a new club for the following season.

Add to this melting pot of malaise the fact that teams are hauled across the country to play at neutral venues in front of small crowds, and it is easy to see why the Emperor's Cup in its current form has outlived its purpose -- to spread the game around the country. This was all well and good in the olden days, but the rapid expansion of the J.League has left these noble principles behind.

For me, the J.League and JFA must work closer in this issue. If the authorities are serious about saving the Emperor's Cup, one plan would be to extend the J.League season to the third week of December, reducing the gap before the New Year's Day final, and integrate the rounds of the Emperor's Cup into the weekend schedule.

Also, an open draw after each round might revive the flagging interest, with the dates available at the start of the season for the purposes of stadium bookings. This would avoid cup ties such as Gamba Osaka against Oita Trinita at Fukuda Denshi Arena, the home of JEF United, which makes no sense to anybody.

Last season, due to Gamba's involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup, Nagoya Grampus had to wait over three weeks between rounds of the Emperor's Cup, long after the J1 season had ended. Again, this is a situation that could be resolved with more drastic restructuring from the authorities.

At least they realise there are problems, but this is only a tiny step on the road to a more meaningful Emperor's Cup.

ends