The elite domestic football competitions of Australia and Japan have reached an agreement to share "technical, marketing and administrative expertise," according to Sebastian Hassett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The memorandum of understanding is the "first of its kind between the A-League and a foreign competition and is expected to drive co-operation between the competitions, two of the strongest in east Asia." A delegation from the J.League arrived over the weekend to finalize "the agreement with Football Federation Australia and also took in Sunday's grand final in Adelaide." FFA CEO David Gallop said, "This deal brings two of Asia's top football nations closer in a very meaningful way that will not just build relationships, but will have an impact on football development." Among the proposals discussed include an increased number of matches between "elite youth" Australian and Japanese clubs and "using football as a mechanism improve political, social and economic relations between the nations." The agreement also "aims to address one shared bugbear -- the substandard marketing of Asian Champions League matches -- by promoting the matches of games from either nation" (SMH, 5/2).
