Great... Geryashoon gerefteh:
Reuters) - Asia's football chief has admitted there is groundswell of opinion in the west of the continent that Australia's membership of the confederation has not worked out and they should be kicked out.
Australia will play South Korea for the Asian Cup on Saturday after what is widely regarded as a successful hosting of the tournament, the second time they have reached the final in three attempts since switching from Oceania in 2006.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, in an interview with United Arab Emirates newspaper Al-Ittihad, said there was a desire by Gulf Arab federations to review Australia's membership.
"Yes, it is true, there are indications that confirm that there is a desire among West Asian federations to remove Australia from the AFC," he told the paper on Wednesday.
"But I also know that the Arabs are not the only ones that are not convinced with the value of Australia staying within the Asian football family."
Critics of Australia's move to Asia, a switch aimed at securing more competitive football and an easier route to the World Cup finals, say the benefits have been all one way.
The Socceroos have reached the last two World Cup finals through Asian qualifying, while the Arabian Gulf, which had one team in soccer's showpiece event from 1990 to 2006, was not represented in South Africa or Brazil.
Asia has four automatic qualifying spots for the World Cup with a fifth country getting a shot at the finals through an intercontinental playoff.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Bahraini Al-Khalifa, who took over the AFC in 2013, said no mechanism had been put in place to review Australia's membership when it was agreed in 2005.
"The decision to include Australia was taken many years ago, before I became head of the AFC," he added.
"There are several Asian federations that see that it is necessary for Australia to leave the AFC, and for the AFC to cut all ties with Australia, but we can't just base any decision on opinions.
"Any decision about Australia's membership will have to come from the general assembly."
Al-Khalifa released a statement on Friday saying Australia had earned its place in Asia by "working diligently" and contributing to the confederation at all levels.
"This effort includes development work among AFC member associations, administration through the various AFC committees and economic benefits through the commercialisation of AFC’s broadcast rights in Australia," it read.
"The AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 has been a wonderful showcase for Asian football.
"Australia is a full member of AFC like any other and the relationship with its fellow member associations can only grow stronger in the years ahead."
Australia coach Ange Postecoglou was reluctant to comment on the reports but said he had experienced nothing but mutual respect and welcome from other countries in Asia.
Speaking at his pre-final news conference, Postecoglou said the whole of Asian football should be united in working towards one of their number winning "the biggest prize of all".
"From our perspective, our goal is to continually, hopefully, raise standards in this region," he told reporters.
"The goal collectively should be for an Asian country to win the World Cup. We've got to break European-South American cycle.
"And that's only going to happen if there's real mutual respect amongst all the countries here to keep improving the football."
Reuters) - Asia's football chief has admitted there is groundswell of opinion in the west of the continent that Australia's membership of the confederation has not worked out and they should be kicked out.
Australia will play South Korea for the Asian Cup on Saturday after what is widely regarded as a successful hosting of the tournament, the second time they have reached the final in three attempts since switching from Oceania in 2006.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, in an interview with United Arab Emirates newspaper Al-Ittihad, said there was a desire by Gulf Arab federations to review Australia's membership.
"Yes, it is true, there are indications that confirm that there is a desire among West Asian federations to remove Australia from the AFC," he told the paper on Wednesday.
"But I also know that the Arabs are not the only ones that are not convinced with the value of Australia staying within the Asian football family."
Critics of Australia's move to Asia, a switch aimed at securing more competitive football and an easier route to the World Cup finals, say the benefits have been all one way.
The Socceroos have reached the last two World Cup finals through Asian qualifying, while the Arabian Gulf, which had one team in soccer's showpiece event from 1990 to 2006, was not represented in South Africa or Brazil.
Asia has four automatic qualifying spots for the World Cup with a fifth country getting a shot at the finals through an intercontinental playoff.
MUTUAL RESPECT
Bahraini Al-Khalifa, who took over the AFC in 2013, said no mechanism had been put in place to review Australia's membership when it was agreed in 2005.
"The decision to include Australia was taken many years ago, before I became head of the AFC," he added.
"There are several Asian federations that see that it is necessary for Australia to leave the AFC, and for the AFC to cut all ties with Australia, but we can't just base any decision on opinions.
"Any decision about Australia's membership will have to come from the general assembly."
Al-Khalifa released a statement on Friday saying Australia had earned its place in Asia by "working diligently" and contributing to the confederation at all levels.
"This effort includes development work among AFC member associations, administration through the various AFC committees and economic benefits through the commercialisation of AFC’s broadcast rights in Australia," it read.
"The AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 has been a wonderful showcase for Asian football.
"Australia is a full member of AFC like any other and the relationship with its fellow member associations can only grow stronger in the years ahead."
Australia coach Ange Postecoglou was reluctant to comment on the reports but said he had experienced nothing but mutual respect and welcome from other countries in Asia.
Speaking at his pre-final news conference, Postecoglou said the whole of Asian football should be united in working towards one of their number winning "the biggest prize of all".
"From our perspective, our goal is to continually, hopefully, raise standards in this region," he told reporters.
"The goal collectively should be for an Asian country to win the World Cup. We've got to break European-South American cycle.
"And that's only going to happen if there's real mutual respect amongst all the countries here to keep improving the football."
Here is more news on Arabs want Australia out:
'Aussies out' - Cup hosts hit by shock AFC revolt
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8952589
Gulf nations want to 'remove' Australia from AFC
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/01/gulf-nations-remove-australia-afc-150130071930885.html
'Aussies out' - Cup hosts hit by shock AFC revolt
http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8952589
Gulf nations want to 'remove' Australia from AFC
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/01/gulf-nations-remove-australia-afc-150130071930885.html
What a disappointing, yet not surprising attack from the Arab countries. In light of recent bribery scandals, it's even more astounding. Process of elimination in sports is meant to take place on the fields not board rooms! So what if Australia has made it to the final? They deserved it. Arab teams can also improve and make it to the final. No one has complained about the multitude of Arab teams which in this cup for instance were 9 out of 16! Not only Australia should stay. Also Israel should be invited back to improve the quality of the games and improve sportsmanship and unity in the region. This is one of the missions of sports.
It seems like we are not the only ones WHO want to join UEFA 
After the Arab revolt news broke out, Aussi fans want aæsp join UEFA, despite distance... in a football forum like ours.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=98822
After the Arab revolt news broke out, Aussi fans want aæsp join UEFA, despite distance... in a football forum like ours.
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=98822
I cant belive instead of learning football from the newly crowned Asian Champions Australis. They want them out.
Well responed by Ausi FF:
http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/gulf-nations-want-expel-australia-asian-confederation-359365
Well responed by Ausi FF:
http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/gulf-nations-want-expel-australia-asian-confederation-359365
we always knew that Australia was few feet ahead of the rest of asia, and i was actually hoping they would help motivated other asian countries on the field and off the field. i am little disappointed in that myself. having said that it is to our benefit to have Australia in Asia as with korea and japan they could be the power house countering the arab nations.
i really hope one these countries takes the lead in Asian as president and change AFC. right now it is to bias toward the arabas even though most of the sponsor are japanes and korean.
i would even go as far as combining oceana to asia and making a one big confederation
i really hope one these countries takes the lead in Asian as president and change AFC. right now it is to bias toward the arabas even though most of the sponsor are japanes and korean.
i would even go as far as combining oceana to asia and making a one big confederation