Earlier this week, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed what most suspected and the Football Federation of Australia, and Melbourne Victory, feared: the 2005/2006 season premier (Adelaide) and champion (Sydney) have earned qualification for the Asian Champions' League.
70% (so far) of readers polled by The World Game expressed the view that the 2006/2007 premier (certain to be Melbourne) and champion/runner up (ie a team other than Melbourne) should go into the ACL, given that the qualifying rounds begin in March 2007 - soon after the Australian A-League Grand Final.
The reason there is a controversy is that the Asian leagues have all finished by now and are preparing for next season - they play their football over winter. In Australia, our season starts when the AFL / ARL finals are starting and, for the latter part, concludes over summer.
However, as a biased Adelaide United fan, I can see one positive for the current ACL qualification system.
If the FFA and Melbourne Victory got its way, the second qualifier would not know if it had qualified for the next round until very close to when it would have to play its first game. Hence, clubs in the finals (or maybe even those in the running late in the season) would have to prepare contingency plans (eg finance, sponsors, flights) in case they earn the second qualification spot.
Regardless of who qualifies, I think Australian clubs will be well placed to compete strongly in the ACL. Australian clubs will be playing the start of the ACL during the off-season, whereas other Asian clubs will be playing during their regular season. Experience tells us that some clubs can get quite distracted with their "continental" campaign and neglect their domestic league performance. So there is a positive in the ACL occurring, in the most part, in our off-season.
I'm excited Adelaide United is in the ACL. It might see us able to retain Romario or some other superstar enticed by the opportunity of playing at an even higher standard. Our roster can expand by a couple players also.
So bravo to Adelaide United for due reward for a fantastic (if petering out at the end) 2005/2006 season.
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