 "Asian football corruption: Japan may leave AFC, form new East Asian federation; India also impacted")
The Japan Football Association (JFA) is reportedly considering leaving the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to form a new body, the East Asian Football Association. This is due to the rising influence of Arab countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia and questionable decisions affecting Japanese clubs.
According to a report on Iraqi TV channel UTV, the controversy stems from the recent AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) tournament held in Saudi Arabia. Japanese club Vissel Kobe lost its position in the standings after Shandong Taishan withdrew abruptly and were fined $10,000 for a previous incident.
In Japan, this decision was widely seen as an example of double standards, raising concerns over fairness and transparency within the AFC. JFA officials have argued that Japanese clubs are suffering from inconvenient scheduling and inconsistent management.
If the East Asian Federation is formed, countries such as South Korea, Australia, and Iraq may join Japan. This could spark a major revolution in Asian football with top nations from the continent forging a different faction.
Impact on India
During India’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier match against Qatar in Doha in 2024, an incident took place that many believe may be part of this controversy. India took a surprising lead through Lallianzuala Chhangte’s 37th-minute strike, marking the first time Qatar had trailed in this qualifying campaign.
However, the match turned controversial when Qatar’s Yousef Aymen scored a goal that Indian players claimed had crossed the baseline before the shot. Despite protests from the Indian team, the referee allowed the goal. It resulted in India’s 2-1 loss. The decision raised further questions about the credibility of referees in Asian tournaments.
Qatar robbed India's spot for FIFA World Cup by cheating openly
— Lakshay Mehta (@lakshaymehta08) June 11, 2024
It's clearly visible that ball has crossed the line for a goal-kick but the nasty Qataris pull it back to tuck in.
CLEARLY NOT A GOAL...!!! 😡 @FIFAcom #IndianFootball #QATIND #FIFA #cheating pic.twitter.com/MCYPAqRrpP
Many observers argue that the controversial refereeing decision robbed India of a historic opportunity to advance to the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The incident added to the growing concerns about fairness in Asian football, highlighting why countries like Japan are now considering leaving the AFC.
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