AFP - The AFC Champions League kicks off this week with the best of Asian football set to reclaim attention from continuing drama off the pitch. The continental showpiece returns with 16 games from Brisbane to Jeddah on Tuesday and Wednesday, involving five former champions among teams from 10 different countries. South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, beaten in a thrilling penalty shootout by Al Sadd last November, will try to reclaim the trophy they won in 2006. Deep-pocketed Guangzhou Evergrande leads a trio of Chinese clubs eager to demonstrate the growing influence of the Super League, while Club World Cup participants Kashiwa Reysol aim to bring the title back to Japan.
Saudi Arabia’s two-time champions Al Ittihad are in Group B, while Qatar, hosts of the 2022 World Cup, are represented by Al Rayyan, Al Arabi, and Lekhiya after champions Al Sadd failed to qualify. In November, ex-Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj's winning penalty gave Al Sadd a shock victory over Jeonbuk after a mass brawl en route to the final.
This season’s build-up has not been smooth after Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against their exclusion for joining a breakaway domestic league. Persipura then lost their playoff to Adelaide United. Indonesian football was again in the spotlight last week when FIFA launched an investigation into the national team’s 10-0 loss to Bahrain, with officials denying corruption as the cause.
Next month, banned Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam will take his case to the CAS after FIFA expelled him over graft allegations. The AFC, now led by acting president Zhang Jilong of China, may hold a congress this year to elect a new permanent leader, further shaking up the regional governing body.
Guangzhou, backed by a leading property firm and having easily won last year’s Super League, hopes to capitalize on its heavy investment in foreign talent, including record signing Dario Conca. However, the Argentine midfielder, along with Muriqui, last year’s Super League top scorer, and fellow Brazilians Cleo and Paulo, were all fined by the club for reporting late for preseason training. Beijing Guoan and Tianjin Teda represent China, while Shanghai Shenhua, recently joined by ex-Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka, did not qualify.
The AFC Champions League features eight groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stage, which begins in May. The tournament replaced the former Asian Club Championship in 2003.