J-League to create spot for Asian players

[Dasher39]

J-League to create spot for Asian players (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=862283.html?cid=rssfeed&att=)
Wednesday 27 August 2008

The J-League, seeking to expand its fanbase overseas, plans to set up a spot at each club for an Asian player from outside Japan, a spokeswoman has announced.

The J-League has pulled in talent from Latin America and Europe but has attracted relatively few players from other Asian countries with the exception of Korea Republic. Each club is currently allowed three foreign players. Under the change, each would have the right to sign a fourth foreigner, but only from another Asian country.

J-League executives have approved the motion, which will be sent for formal approval by the Japan Football Association board next month, a league spokeswoman said. League chairman Kenji Onitake said the move was aimed at improving the level of Japanese football as well as expanding the league's fan base to other parts of Asia.

"We are hoping that this will let players compete with Asian players and improve themselves and at the same time expand our business market through broadcasting rights," Onitake told reporters on Tuesday.

Football is wildly popular across Southeast Asia, where many fans avidly follow the English Premier League and other foreign competitions. The J-League was launched in 1993 with a number of foreign stars including Brazil's Zico and Germany's Pierre Littbarski.

However, it has failed to dethrone baseball as the national sport of Japan, where sumo is also widely watched. The Asian player idea is one of the reforms spearheaded by the football association's president, Motoaki Inukai, in a bid to revitalise the J-League since he took over in July.

Inukai, former president of Urawa Red Diamonds, the Asian club champions, has also pushed for the league to hold its season from the autumn through spring starting in 2010 to coincide with the European football season. Currently J-League games take place from March through December, a schedule supported by clubs in cities with heavy snow.This is something the A-League needs to adopt.

Perhaps a rule that states you may have a fifth foreigner, but that player must be from an Asian nation. This would encourage clubs to target Asian players, and we've seen from Song and from our daliances at the Asian Cup and ACL that there is plenty of talent out there!

[Daims09]

Yerp id agree with that

Maybe with a 50% salary cap exclusion... so we can afford some decent players

[brendo51]

Five overseas players is too many. I would prefer we stick with four and make one of the existing spots a Asian only slot. But the idea itself is a good one.

[Condof 13]

I think that this is a pretty good idea and should be looked into more thoroughly.

[maktifo]

There goes every half descent A league player. The only players the J League clubs will look to sign will come from either Australia, Korea and maybe China... The can't afford oil rich former soviets or arabs (there is no financial gain anyway) so who do you think they will go after?

[bjps]

They do realise that the rest of Asia hates them, right?

[take_no_prisoners]

What about Africa?

[Jdz]

Imho, Asians shouldn't be classified as foreigners.

[G is for geoffrey]

Imho, Asians shouldn't be classified as foreigners.

They're not - the Japanese word for foreigner is the same as alien as far as I know...

[Dasher39]

Japanese clubs with deep pockets set to lure Aussie talent with a taste of Asia (http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/japanese-clubs-set-to-lure-aussie-talent/2008/08/28/1219516664894.html)
Michael Cockerill
August 29, 2008

A-LEAGUE clubs are about to face a new raid on their best players as cashed-up Japanese clubs prepare to launch an assault on the popularity of the English Premier League in parts of Asia.

After 15 years of steadily building a strong foundation in the domestic market, the J-League now wants to spread its wings into Asia, particularly in South-East Asia where the Premier League's broadcasting and merchandising footprint is huge. Bringing in the best players from elsewhere in Asia is seen as a key component of the strategy, and Australian players are expected to be in big demand.

Starting next year, the J-League wants to extend the quota of three foreigners per club to create a fourth spot specifically for nationals from other Asian countries. Having been unanimously endorsed by the clubs, the recommendation is expected to be formally approved by the Japan Football Association early next month.

Historically, J-League clubs have focused on Latin American and European players to fill their visa spots, and only a handful of Asian players - mostly from South Korea - have been recruited. The rule change, however, will see clubs spread their nets much deeper and wider.

While Arab players are widely admired in Japan, for cultural, religious, and financial reasons J-League clubs will find it hard to lure them away from their comfortable lifestyles in the Middle East leagues. Australian players, however, will be excited about the prospect of playing in the J-League, not least because on the field it is universally regarded as the strongest competition in Asia.

Fringe Socceroos defender Eddie Bosnar (JEF United Chiba) is the only Australian presently playing in the J-League, but former Socceroos Ned Zelic (Urawa Red Diamonds), Matthew Bingley (Vissel Kobe), Graham Arnold and Aurelio Vidmar (both Sanfrecce Hiroshima) all had stints in the J-League, while Sydney FC teammates Steve Corica and Tony Popovic (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and Perth Glory defender Hayden Foxe (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) also played in Japan's top division.

Australian-born player agent Ian Scott has been a key adviser for Japan's biggest club, Urawa Red Diamonds, for several years, and he's got no doubt the new rule will revitalise interest in Australian players. "The Japanese have always admired the fighting qualities of Australian players," Scott said..

[jimmy_slats]

great idea i think that we should open up another marque spot but have it as a player from asia

[brett]

Technically, by having 4 spots we already have this setup...it's them that have expanded to a 4th foreign player spot...and that player now is limited to being an Asian player. Why make one of our existing spots an Asian player?

The only thing I see this helping is allowing Australian players to play in Japan, or any high-end talent from Korea, China & Thailand being able to get into the league.

[NUFCMVFC]

Land of the Rising Sun beckons (http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168296468.html)

http://images.the-afc.com/images/common/articleimage/primary/KashimaWonJLeagueTitle_Primary.jpg
Kashima celebrate their title of 2007 J-League with fans. Introducing of 'Asian Berth' would effect the title race (AFP)

In the second part of our feature on the J.League’s ‘Asian Berth’ policy for next season, the-afc.com looks at how the news has been received by other Member Associations.

By Etsuko Miyazaki

The J.League-sponsored ‘Asian Berth’, which promises to pluck unsung talent from the footballing backwaters of the continent and plant them in Asia’s foremost league, has been hailed as a ‘game-changer’ by football aficionados.

The revolutionary gambit promises to usher in a fresh wave of hope for talented yet unlucky footballers for whom playing in better leagues remains a distant dream.

Unveiled last month, the aptly-named ‘Asian Berth’ guarantees one slot in each of the 33 J1 and J2 clubs for a deserving player from AFC’s 46 MAs which range from solid leagues like Saudi Arabia and Australia to lesser known ones like Brunei and Nepal.

Not surprisingly, the move has earned acclaim from officials, players and fans alike.

Nakorn Poungbubpha, manager of Thai powerhouse Krung Thai Bank FC, said; “If our members play in the J.League, our country and Krung Thai Bank FC will gain recognition not only in Japan but also throughout Asia.”

Annop Singtothong, Director of fellow Thai League outfit Chonburi FC, pointed to the long-term effects.

“I think it is an excellent idea. Our players can gain a lot of experience and the club also will benefit from this experience which will help to improve the skills of the team in the future,” said the Chonburi boss who saw his team play in the AFC Champions League this year.

Poungbubpha agreed. “We expect the player to utilise his J.League experience as a coach in the future.”

PROFESSIONALISM

Further, a decent spell in the J.League is expected to impress the virtues of professionalism on the players who are likely to hail from the backwaters of Asian football.

Anthony Dias, a Malaysia football fan, said: “I think most of Asian football is completely lacking in professional ways of the game and here is where this idea can show the way to others.”

The philosophy found excellent support among the players’ fraternity.

“I keenly look forward to playing in the J.League and I think I will do well if I have a chance to play there,” said Chonburi mid-fielder Arthit Sunthornphit.

“I think there will be a huge demand for the one single berth reserved for Asian players in the J1 and J2.”

Fellow playmaker Kriangkrai Pimrat echoed Sunthornphit’s eagerness. “It will be my pleasure to join the J.League and I will try my best to do if I receive an opportunity.”

FFA APPLAUDS

The idea was applauded by Football Federation Australia, with a spokeswoman saying “it will lead to improved standards and quality of competition”.

“FFA is of the view that any move to increase the opportunities available to players within the Asian Football Confederation is good for the entire Confederation as it will lead to improved standards and quality of competition,” said FFA’s spokeswoman who also revealed that a similar plan was being mulled for the A-League.

“FFA is considering increasing the number of visa players permitted within the Hyundai A-League from next season (commencing in 2009)."

(Edited by R. Ravi Kumar)


Wonder where the third part is, will surely help the development of lower tier nations, although the authors use fo the term "backwater" may be considered a bit condascending

Although of course we HAVE to do a similar thing here, Norht Queensland would be good for a lot of these SE Asian players

[dudditz]

The FFA should jump on the idea asap. Allowing clubs to give an Asian import a chance is exciting for fans and clubs alike. There is some concession in the cap in order to help recruiting good quality players. Would love to see some Thai, Indonesian, Uzbek, Arab players in the league. The wage issue is obviously the hard part, but as we have seen with Song, players are willing to some here for exposure and lifestyle as a stepping stone to Europe.