Saudi backing for Lebanon threatens to split AFC<\/p>\n
ABU DHABI (AFP): Saudi Arabia's insistence that Lebanon must
\nhost the 2000 Asian Cup threatens to tear apart the Asian
\nFootball Confederation (AFC), according to senior AFC officials.<\/p>\n
If Lebanon wins the vote this weekend it will be the first
\ntime the Cup, the showcase of Asian football, has not alternated
\nbetween West and East Asia.<\/p>\n
And AFC senior officials admit privately that a Lebanon vote
\ncould cause untold damage to the organization that runs football
\nin the region.<\/p>\n
With the United Arab Emirates hosting the 1996 Cup it was
\nassumed by AFC officials that the 2000 tournament would switch to
\nthe East, with either South Korea, China or Malaysia hosting the
\nchampionship.<\/p>\n
But Saudi Arabia has decided to support Lebanon, which when it
\nfirst announced its intention to bid was ranked as outsider.<\/p>\n
South Korea is expected to withdraw its name before the vote
\nis taken to reduce the number of East Asian countries. Attempts
\nwere also made to get Malaysia to pull out to make the vote a
\nstraight choice between China and Lebanon but AFC sources say the
\nMalaysian government opposed it.<\/p>\n
\"The Arab countries are always looking for a cause and they
\nhave decided to back Lebanon. Football is being forced to take a
\nback seat to politics,\" said one AFC official.<\/p>\n
Although the Arab nations in the 16-strong AFC executive
\ncommittee have only six votes, Saudi clout is likely to convince
\nat least four of the East Asian members to support it.<\/p>\n
AFC general secretary Peter Velappan, trying to play down the
\npotential damage a Lebanon victory could do to his organization,
\nsaid yesterday: \"We have an unwritten rule that every four years
\nthe tournament moves from one side of Asia to the other. I hope
\nthat tradition continues.\"<\/p>\n
But AFC officials fear that the organization will be split
\nbetween Arab Asians and 'Asian' Asians if Lebanon wins.<\/p>\n
\"If this happens the damage could be devastating,\" commented
\none official.<\/p>\n
Officials insist that China is the natural choice for the next
\nAsian Cup.<\/p>\n
\"Lebanon poses problems with security, facilities and
\nmarketing. The Executive Committee should make their vote based
\non what is best to advance the Asian Cup and the AFC. Nothing
\nelse,\" said one official.<\/p>\n
\"Everything points to China. It will be a tragedy if they do
\nnot get the vote,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Tension between the two Asian blocks has been heightened by
\nthe failure of East Asia's teams in the Asian Cup here.<\/p>\n
Pre-tournament favorites South Korea and Japan, who are
\ncohosting the 2002 World Cup, both failed to make the semi-
\nfinals. Japan crashed to Kuwait and South Korea were humiliated
\nby Iran in the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
China, East Asia's remaining hope, was thrashed by Saudi
\nArabia.<\/p>\n
With four West Asian countries filling the four semifinal
\nspots a Lebanon vote would only add salt to an already inflamed
\nwound.<\/p>\n
Last minute attempts to get Saudi Arabia and Lebanon to change
\ntheir minds are underway but AFC officials are not optimistic.<\/p>\n
\"We are always hopeful but things are not looking good. But we
\nwill try right to the last minute,\" said an AFC fficial.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/saudi-backing-for-lebanon-threatens-to-split-afc-1447893297",
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