Asians may be glad Australia lost

* By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
* Published: 00:00 June 19, 2010
* Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: The Asian football family has different feelings towards the heavy defeat of Australia by Germany — the biggest so far in the World Cup.

The Australians were convinced to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2005 by Mohammad Bin Hammam, the AFC boss, who believed the new member would help improve the standards of the game in the region.

The decision was largely opposed by those fearing Australia would dominate the Asian World Cup qualifying, leaving only three berths for the rest of the teams.

I was astonished when one friend, a former international football player, called me to express his happiness after the Australians were trounced by the Germans.

"Yes I am happy because first they are not true Asians and they have robbed the original Asian teams of a seat in the finals of the World Cup for which the continent has fought for ages.

"The Asian teams have not benefited from the decision to add Australia to the AFC but New Zealand benefited and now they are in the World Cup, while good Asian teams like China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and others are not playing there.

"On the continental scene, Australia have become like a fat, tall bully among children, but on the international scene they are a helpless team. We should organise a campaign to discuss this issue and demand the AFC change that decision," my friend added.


http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/asians-may-be-glad-australia-lost-1.643036