Footballers' union FIFPRO says AFC Champions League 'unsustainable' / Photo: Fayez NURELDINE - AFP
-
Supporters flood India's 'cockroach' protesters with food
-
EasyJet profits nosedive on Mideast war
-
Modi vows punishment for exam leaks fuelling India protests
-
EU fines Google 890 mn euros, risking US fury
-
Norway set to make formal complaint to FIFA over Balogun red card saga
-
France evacuates thousands of tourists as fire rages in pine forest
-
Floods in northeast India kill at least 41
-
French Jewish DJ sues after activists disrupt stage show: lawyer
-
Nestle siphons off bottled water business into joint venture
-
Nokia says AI, cloud boosted sales in second quarter
-
Hundreds hospitalised in Japan heatwave 'disaster'
-
Repsol says profit more than triples on higher oil prices
-
Renault says sales stalled in first half
-
TotalEnergies says profit doubled on Mideast war
-
EasyJet says profits nosedive on Mideast war
-
Giant swing on Swiss peak aims to boost summer tourism as Alps warm
-
Modi vows punishment for exam fraud fuelling India protests
-
ASEAN to call for open straits as US-Iran war casts shadow
-
Six candidates in race to lead UN set for televised debate
-
AI catches up with humans to score 100% at top maths contest
-
Comic-Con kicks off with Marvel's return
-
South Korea election office raided in fake turnout figures probe: investigators
-
Dutch riders dreaming of crazy party corner of Alpe d'Huez
-
Killer whales: orcas blow fish to bits 'for fun', study finds
-
Houthis target Red Sea shipping as US hits Iran
-
Deadly wildfires force thousands from homes in parts of Europe
-
Record-equalling Red Sox streak halted at 15 wins
-
Tech bounce lifts Asia stocks, oil extends gains on US-Iran fears
-
Messi-less Miami beat Fire 3-2 to spoil Lewandowski's MLS debut
-
Surrounded by militias, Sudanese fear endless cycle of war
-
Mercedes expect Hungary challenge from Hamilton and Ferrari
-
Commonwealth Games 'where champions are made' despite slimmed down model, argues president
-
In Ghana, one man's race to save critically endangered fish
-
Trump family project in Albania has already caused 'irreparable' damage: NGOs
-
Wilson captain, Slipper absent in Kiss's first Wallabies squad
-
Bollywood blast master keeps it real with fire and fury
-
New Mideast fighting puts eurozone rate-setters on alert
-
Tearful fights, edible offerings: A glimpse into the Maradona trial
-
Venezuelans search for animal companions lost in the quakes
-
What's the deal with peptides? The hyped market under US review
-
Argentine Football Association says US did not detain its president
-
Tesla shares fall as Musk touts ambitious -- and costly -- plans
-
June heatwave cost UK economy more than £1bn: study
-
Qoder Launches Qoder Security, Putting Three Layers of Security into the AI Coding Session
-
Empire Metals Limited Announces Management Appointments
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - July 23
-
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc: Blanket Exploration Results
-
American Critical Minerals Announces Private Placement in Advance of Its Green River Project Well
-
Tocvan Discovers New High-Grade At-Surface Silver-Gold Zone 900 m East of Pilot Facility at Gran Pilar Project
-
XCF Global and Continual Renewable Ventures Sign Agreement to Expand New Rise ANZ Renewable Fuels Platform in Australia
Footballers' union FIFPRO says AFC Champions League 'unsustainable'
The current Asian Champions League is "unsustainable", the global footballers' union FIFPRO said in a report Monday, accusing the regional governing body of failing to listen to players and clubs.
The continent's top club competition is in the spotlight like never before after Saudi teams shelled out on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema.
The round of 16 began on Tuesday last week, three days after the final of the Asian Cup, which was won by hosts Qatar.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is responsible for both competitions, which span a vast area from Australia to the Middle East and Central Asia.
The current Champions League is split into two zones, "West" and "East", until a two-legged final home and away.
Starting in the next campaign, there will also be a geographical split at the start of the tournament, but the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held in Saudi Arabia.
FIFPRO said this remodelled version, which will see the winner take home an increased cheque of $12 million, was also unsustainable.
Takuya Yamazaki, FIFPRO's chairman for Oceania-Asia, hopes its report will "spark meaningful discussions with governing bodies, leagues, clubs and fans" about the Champions League.
"The results indicate that, as anticipated, the merits do not outweigh the drawbacks for most players and clubs, making it an unsustainable system," he said in the report.
FIFPRO accused the AFC of adopting "a top-down approach that excludes the voices of players and clubs from decision-making".
It called on the AFC to forge "a genuine partnership with players, clubs and leagues to ensure that the competition delivers for all parties".
Among its conclusions, the 49-page report said that the average quality of teams in the Champions League was inferior to the top domestic divisions in Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
It said the average quality of the competition was also going down.
FIFPRO also voiced concern about the economic cost for teams, given the long travel sometimes involved, and the effect of travel and match scheduling on the workload of players.
AFP has contacted the Kuala Lumpur-based AFC for comment.
Th.Gonzalez--AT
