When the revamped Asian Champions League launched in 2009, one buzzword rose above all others in the ensuing din – professionalism.
This was, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) boasted, the start of a new era of professionalism. The continent’s top club competition was not open to any ragtag bunch off the street; clubs and leagues had to meet benchmarks in organisation, marketing, attendance and facilities, among others, if they wanted to take part.
This was a positive development. Over the long run, pushing everyone involved with Asian football to raise their standards – whether willingly or kicking and screaming – should result in better-run, better-played football across the continent.
This also makes the AFC allowing Al Ittihad to switch venues for their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Al Ain quite puzzling.
Why would an organisation so committed to promoting greater professionalism let Ittihad move the match from Jeddah to Mecca 48 hours prior to kick-off? The timing is bad enough, but Al Ain have had to deal with additional travel issues as non-Muslims are not allowed into Mecca, forcing the squad to fly to a different city and go 90 kilometres out of their way just to reach the stadium.
Ittihad claim King Abdullah Sport City in Jeddah is not ready to host the match. Did they only figure this out late on Sunday?
The stadium was apparently deemed capable of holding upwards of 60,000 spectators for Ittihad’s Saudi league match against Al Fateh on August 13. Hosting Al Ain should be much simpler as Ittihad must play the match behind closed doors after their fans’ unruly behaviour in the previous round.
There are no reports of damage to the stadium or outbreaks of disease in Jeddah, so why suddenly throw their Emirati guests’ travel arrangements into disarray?
Radio silence from the AFC and Ittihad does not help matters. At best, this is embarrassing mismanagement that has no place in Asia’s premier club competition. At worst, this is craven gamesmanship by the Saudis that is beneath a match featuring two of the biggest, most decorated clubs in West Asia.
Last-minute venue changes, for whatever reason, do not bestow the appearance of professionalism. The Asian Champions League, and everyone involved, deserve better.
pfreelend@thenational.ae
