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Asian Leagues

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Boosting football in India

Submitted by WG on Thu, 11/04/2013 - 10:54

The example of the Premier League casts a long shadow.  Much criticised domestically, it is seen as a business model to emulate across the world.

Chinese football remains in a muddle

Submitted by WG on Sun, 10/02/2013 - 10:58

China is seen as a great untapped market by Premier League clubs, but there are also hopes that the domestic game will get itself established.   But although there is plenty of money around, it is often not well used and the result is muddle, confusion and often worse.

The arrival of two world class footballers, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, at Shanghai Shenhua was seen as a sign of better things to come.  But all that resulted as far as Mr Anelka was concerned was what one Chinese newspaper described as '414 days of farce'.

What prospects for the Asian Champions' League?

Submitted by WG on Tue, 13/11/2012 - 16:55

It took a long time for Asian nations to create professional football leagues.   Even now, a lot of time is spent watching matches on television from the Premier League or La Liga.   Globalisation spreads interest in football, and it both stimulates and constrains its local development.

Football bosses jailed in Chinese match fixing case

Submitted by WG on Fri, 15/06/2012 - 11:06

China has put two dozen former football officials, players, coaches and referees behind bars in an attempt to clean up the game which has been rife with corruption.  Two former national soccer chiefs and the disgraced national football team captain each got ten and half a years to enjoy the amenities of the country's prisons.

Why is China a big spender?

Submitted by WG on Tue, 29/05/2012 - 13:05

China is a major emerging power economically and politically, perhaps destined to be the leading power in the world according to some analysts, although its per capita income is well below that of developed countries. Many people still live in relative poverty, despite the growth of the urban middle class.

Indian Premier League fails

Submitted by WG on Fri, 24/02/2012 - 10:32

The ambitious plan for an Indian Premier League featuring semi-retired world stars has been postponed for a second time and now looks unlikely to go ahead.   The league was modelled on cricket's India Premier League and the matches were due to be played in West Bengal between March and May.

New football tournament in India

Submitted by WG on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 11:43

The Indian market is potentially a huge one for football but the country remains devoted to cricket and other sports.   However, football has a big following in West Bengal and it is there that a new tournament has been based.    It is modelled on the franchise sysyem of the successful Indian Premier League format in cricket and has started with an auction of players and coaches.

Mercurial owner meets mercurial player

Submitted by WG on Tue, 13/12/2011 - 17:24

The transfer of Nicolas Anelka to Shanghai Shenhua in January will bring together a mercurial owner and a mercurial player.   Its been an up and down ride for fans with Zun Jun who made his money out of the Warrior Warcraft game but then had to conduct a fire sale of players when he lost the franchise in 2009.

Korean league crisis boosts Premiership

Submitted by WG on Sat, 09/07/2011 - 06:24

Overseas television revenues are becoming an increasingly important part of overall Premier League revenues.   A big share of these revenues comes from Asia which also has the greatest growth potential, not least in China.   One reason for the popularity of the Premier League there is that in most East Asian countries gambling is very popular.    Premier League matches are seen as reliable events not susceptible to fixing.

Football in Iran

Submitted by WG on Sun, 12/06/2011 - 09:17

The Economist used the recent death of Iranian goalkeeper Nasser Hejazi to reflect on the state of football in Iran.   Hejazi was a critic of the regime and was even banned from Iranian television for a while.   20,000 people turned up to the first part of his funeral at a stadium, some of them chanting anti-government slogans.   His body was spirited away for a secret burial.