Serious planning is underway to expand the A-League by including Asian teams, according to Adno & Smithies of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Though the owners of Brisbane, Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle "went public with the idea of Asian expansion a few days ago," they are being a "bit coy about how advanced it is." For the past few months U.K. consultants have been "discreetly but actively engaged with Asian football bosses to try to win their approval, as well as crunch the numbers to show how it could be financially successful." Several of the owners "are convinced the way to make serious money is by inviting teams from football-mad countries like Hong Kong and Singapore to join Australia's league." But to say Football Federation Australia opposes the plan would be a "huge understatement," and FFA CEO David Gallop's lieutenants are "convinced the idea will be shot down" -- if not by the Asain Football Confederation then by FIFA, which many believe is "very nervous about allowing cross-continental competition." There is also the "small matter of the much heralded ASEAN Super League, a concept which Singapore and Malaysia have already put forward to FIFA and invited Australia to allow its clubs to play in" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 3/12).
