Post by tajiritarantula on Mar 23, 2005 7:22:53 GMT -5
Australian soccer is on the verge of its most important coup - joining the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and earning the chance to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals directly through Asia.
In a move which could mean rich financial rewards for the sport and mouth-watering soccer on a regular basis, Asian football chiefs on Wednesday night endorsed Australia's bid to join the AFC.
But AFC secretary-general Peter Velappan warned Australia's link with Asia was not yet a done deal.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), of which Australia is currently a member, must approve Australia's departure at its executive meeting next month.
And the move from the OFC to the AFC would then have to be rubber-stamped by soccer's world governing body, FIFA.
"Australia has to resign from the OFC. Then they have to inform FIFA and then they apply to the AFC," Velappan told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the AFC held an executive meeting.
"All these procedures will take time. In principle Asia is happy to have them.
"Now we just await the timeframe in order to realise Australia's wish."
Australia is currently a member of the OFC, which does not have its own World Cup finals direct qualification spot.
Instead, the Oceania winner - which is usually Australia - must play off against the fifth-placed South American team to qualify.
Asia has four automatic qualifying berths and a playoff.
It also has a structured and competitive group qualification process which could see the Socceroos play as many as 15 meaningful matches in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup finals.
There is also the promise of Australian A-League clubs earning spots in the lucrative Asian Champions' League.
Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy has been pushing for Australian soccer to jettison Oceania and link with Asia since his appointment 18 months ago.
"We are very heartened by the news that the Asian Football Confederation has endorsed our wishes to join them," Lowy said on Wednesday night in a statement.
"It is a very positive step and we look forward to meeting with the AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam who arrives in Sydney on Saturday to discuss with us the next steps required for our transfer and attend our historic matches against Iraq in Sydney and then Indonesia in Perth on Tuesday."
bin Hammam announced the decision in Kuala Lumpur after Australia had applied to officially become the 46th member of the confederation.
"The executive committee unanimously endorsed the wishes of Australia to join the AFC," bin Hammam said.
He said Australia's move to the AFC would be beneficial to both parties and there had been no objections from the more powerful teams within the confederation.
"For the AFC, Australia has world football standards and it is an economic power," bin Hammam said.
"We had representatives from Japan and Saudi Arabia and they are all welcoming.
"The arrival of Australia will increase the image of Asian football standards and competition."
But the future of Oceania remains unclear if Australia were to depart.
The region would be left with just New Zealand and a myriad of weaker island nations.
In a move which could mean rich financial rewards for the sport and mouth-watering soccer on a regular basis, Asian football chiefs on Wednesday night endorsed Australia's bid to join the AFC.
But AFC secretary-general Peter Velappan warned Australia's link with Asia was not yet a done deal.
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), of which Australia is currently a member, must approve Australia's departure at its executive meeting next month.
And the move from the OFC to the AFC would then have to be rubber-stamped by soccer's world governing body, FIFA.
"Australia has to resign from the OFC. Then they have to inform FIFA and then they apply to the AFC," Velappan told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the AFC held an executive meeting.
"All these procedures will take time. In principle Asia is happy to have them.
"Now we just await the timeframe in order to realise Australia's wish."
Australia is currently a member of the OFC, which does not have its own World Cup finals direct qualification spot.
Instead, the Oceania winner - which is usually Australia - must play off against the fifth-placed South American team to qualify.
Asia has four automatic qualifying berths and a playoff.
It also has a structured and competitive group qualification process which could see the Socceroos play as many as 15 meaningful matches in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup finals.
There is also the promise of Australian A-League clubs earning spots in the lucrative Asian Champions' League.
Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy has been pushing for Australian soccer to jettison Oceania and link with Asia since his appointment 18 months ago.
"We are very heartened by the news that the Asian Football Confederation has endorsed our wishes to join them," Lowy said on Wednesday night in a statement.
"It is a very positive step and we look forward to meeting with the AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam who arrives in Sydney on Saturday to discuss with us the next steps required for our transfer and attend our historic matches against Iraq in Sydney and then Indonesia in Perth on Tuesday."
bin Hammam announced the decision in Kuala Lumpur after Australia had applied to officially become the 46th member of the confederation.
"The executive committee unanimously endorsed the wishes of Australia to join the AFC," bin Hammam said.
He said Australia's move to the AFC would be beneficial to both parties and there had been no objections from the more powerful teams within the confederation.
"For the AFC, Australia has world football standards and it is an economic power," bin Hammam said.
"We had representatives from Japan and Saudi Arabia and they are all welcoming.
"The arrival of Australia will increase the image of Asian football standards and competition."
But the future of Oceania remains unclear if Australia were to depart.
The region would be left with just New Zealand and a myriad of weaker island nations.
