soccer

Asia pushes for more spots in expanded World Cup

7 Comments

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7 Comments
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Why? the group sucks so bad that the teams at the bottom want to feel a little better about themselves while the top three remain unchanged and Asia in general fails to challenge the other groups? If anything the Americas and Europe should be getting more spots, not Asia. I'm all for and would LOVE to see more Asian teams in the WC progress, but by EARNING it, not by it being entitled and given to them.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

All valid points smith. SK are the only Asian nation to ever reach WC semis ( in 2002 at 'their' wc thanks to some of the worse home reffing I have seen when they played Spain in the qf). They are just not that good.

“We believe that Asia, as the biggest continent, deserves more slots compared with the current quota, looking at the economic power it has, and the popularity for the game in Asia, in addition to the huge development for football at all levels,” Sheikh Salman said.

Why should 'economic power' even be mentioned? Shouldn't it be all about on-field performances? No doubt Asia will get a few more spots but I don't think $ should be the n1 criteria. Re the 16 new berths, reckon Oceania should get 1.5 i.o today's 0.5 and all other confederations an extra 3 each (Asia, Africa, SA, Concacaf and Europe. Don't think Asia is more 'deserving' than other continents.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Well, there we the have the quotation at allows us to ignore anything emanating from this source.

Football's not about "economic power", but passion and skill.

And I'm a Coventry City fan..

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The writing has been on the wall for a while my friends. FIFA will go wherever the money is. Qatar, Oligarch Russia, Club World Cup in Japan. Go to Arsenal's Emirates (the clue is in the sponsors name) or Chelsea's Stamford Bridge and you will no longer find the traditional working class fan with generations of family attending games, but Asian and European tourists and middle-class season ticket holders.

By opening up the World Cup to a ridiculous number of nations FIFA are keeping everyone sweet. It's not about common sense anymore.

Coventry City. At least Coventry fans have been demonstrating and making things rough against the ground relocation debacle. I once ended up on the pitch at Highfield Road. 1980 when we finally beat Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final 3rd replay.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"We believe that Asia, as the biggest continent, deserves more slots compared with the current quota, looking at the economic power it has, and the popularity for the game in Asia, in addition to the huge development for football at all levels,”

Just say "We want China in every World Cup". It's easier.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Ironically, India still won't qualify in next fifty so years.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

26 spots for Europe, 12 spots for America, 7 spots for Africa, 3 spots for Asia Oceania will be fair (better 24 for Europe and 24 for America, but America doesn`t have so many good teams)

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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