Bin Hammam (in pic), President of AFC, said revenues from Asia-staged matches would have to be shared "automatically" with host associations. He would also expect the Premier League clubs to "share their experiences, and the secret of their success". By David Conn.
The President of the Asian Football Confederation, one of the most vocal opponents of the Premier League's proposed "Game 39" international round of matches, has softened his attitude so significantly that he would "welcome" Premier League games in Asia.
Mohamed bin Hammam, President of the Asian Football Confederation, speaking in London, said his initial rejection of the idea last February had been prompted by "shock" after having had no prior discussion with the Premier League. Since then he has met the league's chief executive Richard Scudamore several times and has been persuaded that if an international round does go ahead, the Premier League and its clubs will operate as "partners" and help develop football across the continent.
The "Game 39 proposal" - for an extra league match to be played by x each club at venues around the world - was widely derided across the globe when it was leaked after a presentation by Scudamore to the Premier League clubs. When Bin Hammam heard the news he denounced the Premier League as "putting money before responsibility and dignity" and said he would "vote strongly against" it.
"We had no contact or dialogue at all with the Premier League before they launched the proposal," Bin Hammam said. "The idea that a league would play outside its territory was shocking news. No positive aspects had been put for our consideration."
Bin Hammam added that the Premier League's popularity in his confederation, which includes the Middle East, Far East and China, the league's most lucrative overseas television markets, could hamper football's growth there.
"Most of the foreign revenue to the Premier League is coming from Asia," he said. "People love to see the Premier League clubs on television. That is not worrying in itself, but I am nervous that television companies are willing to pay huge amounts to the Premier League but not to invest in local leagues. We and the Premier League should be partners. If they want to play matches in Asia they are welcome, and we should know what the benefits will be to all our stakeholders."
Bin Hammam, president of the AFC since 2002 and an increasingly influential figure, was formally introduced to Scudamore at the International Football Arena conference in Beijing in May.
He has since made it clear that the AFC would want the Premier League and its clubs to help develop coaching, technical expertise, refereeing and other infrastructure, and said he is now satisfied that would happen. "I see they are responsible people and I do not see it as all being about money and greed. When we talked, I saw that Richard Scudamore does really care about football and fans and the national associations, and that touched us a lot."
Scudamore's charm offensive continued, where he and Bin Hammam had dinner and where the AFC President was guest of honour in London at the launch of the Premier League's International Good Causes programme.
Bin Hammam said revenues from Asia-staged matches would have to be shared "automatically" with host associations. He would also expect the Premier League clubs to "share their experiences, and the secret of their success".
The international-round proposals are due to go before the Premier League clubs again in February, although Scudamore said it is "unlikely" they will be in the form of Game 39. However he is adamant it will be a "meaningful" fixture and not a friendly. The proposal is still likely to face fierce opposition from fans' groups as well as UEFA and FIFA, which both see it as an aggressive and financially driven attempt to expand English football's reach.
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