'Aussies out' -- Asian Cup hosts hit by shock AFC revolt

Looks like the Arabs are just sour-graping that their teams aren't up to par. Next they'll want Japan and Korea out of the AFC.

Like having the Aussies in the Asian section. And during the ongoing Asian Games in Australia most of the stadiums were nearly packed with soccer/football fans. In most other countries the stands would have been nearly empty. So it shows that there is soccer/football passion Down Under. If the griping countries want to win more, they just have to build up better teams.

I think it's good to have that culture mix in the Asian zone. Heaven knows these Middle Eastern countries that are complaining could do with more exposure to western culture countries on a friendly sport-based basis, as I know that Australians have been gaining more knowledge and respect for many of the Middle Eastern countries through the Asian Cup and other Asian football.

Personally, I'd like to see the whole Asia-Pacific region rolled into together. I see nothing wrong with, say, Thailand playing Fiji. I think there's a good cultural fit for the regions. Only Australia and New Zealand would be in the running to qualify for anything, but FIFA could also give that last World Cup spot that the Pacific have to always play off for to the new combined confederation, then no one would have any grounds for complaint.

...just a thought.

lol what a joke, half the arab teams could be classified as not in the Asian region. just p**sed off because they cant win anything. having strong teams in your region just raises the level of all teams. if you cant match up, train harder or stfu and live with it.

How about create a new Middle East football region just for them?

How about create a new Middle East football region just for them? yeah and give it just half a qualifying point for the world cup, the winner should have to play the lowest team in Europe to qualify, similar to the Oceania group instead they have to play the south American team. very unfair which is one of the main reasons why Australia joined the Asia group. If Blatter gave Oceania a full point ten the winner would automatically go to the world cup and Australia wouldnt need to have left Oceania

'How about create a new Middle East football region just for them?'

Good idea. Perhaps they could include Turkey and Israel just to piss them off. Hammerings and boycotts everywhere.

Reports are doing the rounds that some mid-east countries couldn't adjust to the liberal environment in which many of their own fans were celebrating.

eg Saudi & Iranian women fans clad in light summer wear, enjoying the festivities an generally contributing to the "we are the world program".

Many of these women immigrated to Aust, and the powers to be in the mid-east are probably horrified that the generous lifestyle afforded to their ex-pats, may well have a sobering if not a down right liberating affect upon the home grown masses.

Best to stamp out the "un-asian" infidels now before we have citizens questioning our way of life.

The best solution if the discriminatory practices of the criers are upheld, is to have a west asia confederation and an east asia confederation. That way the westies won't need to be subjected to the nasties of the east.

They could call it Football Union Middle East, or FU Middle East for short

The grubby nature of what goes on behind the scenes of organised football rears its ugly head again. So much for the spirit of the game.

They didn't seem to be complaining much when Middle Eastern teams were sort of able to match it or even beat Australia in the past. Officials and players can be polite - but what Australia now brings to the Asian group is another team that Middle Eastern countries can't beat. Maybe they should reconsider the Asian group as Asia West and Asia East, with Australia in East. East would be stronger, and the winner of West would play the weakest South American team for a WC spot. OR maybe they would prefer to play the third ranked team in Asia East...

This is absolutely just the result of poor sportsmanship on behalf of the losing teams. I have ZERO doubt that if even one of the Middle Eastern -- arguably not 'Asian' teams had gone through to the finals, especially instead of Australia, we'd be hearing none of this. And keep in mind that even within the article it states clearly that this is being described within the AFC as 'the best Asian Cup yet'! It is BY FAR getting more international coverage since Australia joined than it did before, and more recognition as a legitimate tournament, again despite people angry their favourite teams lost (some Japan fans on here were talking about how the AC means nothing after Japan lost, for example).

Until they make an Oceania League and Middle Eastern League or zones to add to the four existing ones Australia should have the right to choose if it wants to be in Asia, so long as it contributes, which it does. It certainly makes sense geographically more than them being included in Europe, and from the standpoint that they are multi-cultural again the should be able to choose.

Australia should never have been allowed to join the Asian qualifiers for the simple fact that Australia is not, nor has ever been Asia>

They should have done something to the Oceania groups to allow the winners to qualify for the World Cup in an easier manner than they did but it's ridiculous to get upset over the fact that they're not Asian because they only joined Asia to get in to the world cup and arguably since they joined more Asian teams have been elligible for qualification.

So, how in the hallibet do the Arabs consider themselves to be part of Asia and Australia not? They are just peeved cos they can't beat the Aussies, even though their population is six times larger. Tossers!

@Heda

they only joined Asia to get in to the world cup

In fact they qualified in 2006 through Oceania by beating the lowest placed South American team (Uruguay).

from the article:

Australia joined the AFC in 2006 and its teams have enjoyed success, qualifying for two straight World Cups

While they did join the AFC in 2006 they had already qualified for the 2006 World Cup so I can see where you might be confused.

Let's be honest. Australia wanted to join the Asian group to make qualification for the World Cup easier. I'm not knocking it but I had huge respect for New Zealand qualifying for the World Cup from Oceania and going through the group stage unbeaten ;). Sorry, as an Englishman I couldn't resist it.

They should have done something to the Oceania groups to allow the winners to qualify for the World Cup in an easier manner than they did they did they lobby hard to FIFA to get the extra half a point so the winner could go directly to the world cup instead of a playoff with a Sth america team. Even Blatter was for it but no zone wanted to concede the half a point and when the vote was over Oceania got shafted. Australia moving to Asia was unavoidable, playing higher quality teams more often and an easier (but not easy ) path to the world cup. any other team in Australias position would have done the same.

The Middle East can have their own MFC. China, Korea, Japan, Australia, Uzbekistan and surrounding regions can form their own AFC. I hate dealing with the dirty politics, grass rolling, bad sportsmanship, mercenary athletes, and all the whining and crap.

Argus, I know they qualified by beating the 5th places South American team. But the facts remain that the only reason that they joined Asia was to ensure they qualified for future world cups without having to play the South Americans.

And it's no surprise that other members of Asia don't want them there because they're taking someone else's spot.

Australia is not part of Asia. Never has been, and whatever the justfications it's no surprise that some aren't happy with them there.

Most sporting bodies look to expand their competitions for the good of the sport and/or profit.

Becoming insular will just lower the competitiveness of the members' teams in the WC.

@heda

First of all, there is a reason why it is called Asia/Oceania FA.

The simple truth is, that other than what Korea and Japan do (by now we all have doubts if that is actually still true about Japan) play some quality by world standards, there is NOT ONE country that actually plays something that can seriously be called football.

Check the records at the worldcups! ALL themes from Asia usually end up last in their groups, Brazil 2014 was the perfect example.

If it was up to me, who prefers better teams at the worldcup, I would at least take one qualifying place away from Asia/Arabia and give it to Oceania, and have a play-off for a second spot at the Worldcup between the runner up of Oceania, usually New Zealand, and an Asian Team.

When Australia joined Asian Federation, everybody was happy with the prospect that Australia would raise the bar of quality in the region - which it did succesfully. Not it's hurting that Australia is the star of the region. In my opinion, Oceania should merge the AFC and fight for one, or two, more spots in the World Cup. It is about time, FIFA is considering a 40-team World Cup in the future, after Russia and Qatar, probably.

It's not called the Asia/Oceania FA. They are two different FAs =

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of Asian football and one of the six Confederations making up FIFA.

If you really wanted the best teams in the world cup you wouldn't consider New Zealand as they recently lost to Japan, Uzbekistan and Thailand. But I'd agree that Oceania should have a guaranteed spot and Australia should be in that competition.

Australia's main football competition is actually played across two different federations as it features a team from New Zealand. Perhaps my team in England should join the Scottish league to guarantee Champions League football?

wipeout: Historically and culturally it clearly isn't: economically it appears that it would like to be (at least when it suits)

Umm... Australia's biggest trading partners are China and Japan. It was the only 'Western' country not to go into recession during the GFC because it's economy is linked to Asia, not North America or Europe. Economically, Australia is clearly a part of Asia.

As for land borders, the Middle East is a land bridge between 3 continents. It can be argued that it is or is not a part of all 3. You say "the division between Europe and Asia runs through Istanbul", I say Asia does not start until you get east of Iran. Everything west of that is a separate landmass and cultural center. Asia has at least 3 major zones, the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, and East Asia. The argument for including the Middle East in Asia really isn't a heck of a lot different to including Australia. They are both separate land masses that border the edges of Asia and don't really fit in well with other regions. In fact, it can probably be argued that the Middle East has a far better fit with North Africa that with Asia.

Europe is a continent first by self-description and then by courtesy. It's a stub off the continent of Asia. May as well call Canada a continent.

Lol, never stops amazing me how much the middle east goes to pieces over nothing.

We got beat. Something must be done. 3-2-1-whinge.

**now the twit has done a about face on what he said, Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said his comments had been "manipulated" after he told UAE newspaper Al Ittihad that some countries wanted Australia out. "I'm really stunned with the timing to bring this topic out. It's a false topic," the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president told the Herald Sun newspaper.

"To read a story like this is really sad because there's no truth in it.

"The success of this tournament has exceeded our expectations. I won't let a story like this affect the success of the tournament we had in Australia."

Oh, "comments had been "manipulated" ", I see. In soccer terms Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa claimed 'handball', " "I'm really stunned", gestured wildly at the innocent defender, ref did that pouty-faced thing and shook his head, claimer ruefully smiled, "It's a false topic", and patted the ref on the bum… "I won't let a story like this affect the success of the tournament we had in Australia"…. the beautiful game. As an Aussie I am really proud we can make headway in the soccer world. Give me AFL anytime.

Ohhhh yeeeahhhh! Well done Socceroos! Great Final, well played to the Koreans also. Franjic and Matty Ryan were sensational at the back! We scored the most goals in the comp by far and fully deserved the silverware.

AUSTRALIA - ASIAN CHAMPIONS!

bin Ebrahim needs to whine harder, he gets to look more stupid now that Australia won the final.

@Heda

You misunderstand the expression World Cup. It is a huge thing, even businesswise. It is supposed to be a WORLD Cup, for all nations, from all regions. So there is no need to have the precise 32 best teams there, of which anyway only a certain number of usual suspects have a chance. So why not have teams from all over the world appear? Qualification is easy to understand, you fail, you do not go. Otherwise, why let any team from Asia appear at all? Every single one came in last in their group. Those players and via TV the inhabitants of their countries will have seen what football can actually be like. You do not have to like Germans or Germany to enjoy the way they scored the 7 against Brazil, right?

just of note Asian president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa has backed Australia’s membership, and told the Herald Sun that alleged comments to the contrary were “manipulated”. also it takes a 75% majority vote to have any member expelled from the confederation, I doubt theyd even get 50% if there was ever a vote. only the lowly ranked Middle east teams that are crying foul.

Volland, you said you prefer the better teams in the world cup - so how is my response a misunderstanding? You can't want the better teams and then say another spot should go to Oceania (the continent that Australia is located)

I've already stated that Oceania should have had one automatic spot. And Australia should have stayed to challenge for that.

Maybe the disgruntled countries would settle for the Aussie team wearing random sizes of ankle weights while on the field.

Australia should never have been allowed to join the Asian qualifiers for the simple fact that Australia is not, nor has ever been Asia>

Australia opted to join the Asian confederation - and after many years of trying succeeded - for 2 reasons. 1, qualification for the world cup via oceania meant a rock-scissors-paper like playoff against one of the regions other teams (famously Uruguay in 2005) 2, qualification via Asia, through a series of games was more assured. Moreover, the quality of the opponents (ie South Korea, Japan etc) provided a better test for our players. Oh, and Australia is the new Asian champion, through a hard-fought victory against a very tenacious South Korean side. Live with it