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Asian Debate: Is The '3 Plus 1' Rule Changing Asian Football For Good?
Asian editor John Duerden believes that the introduction of the 'three plus one' rule has been an instant success and that it will have long-term benefits for the game in Asia...
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Jan 29, 2009 2:11:32 AM
From time to time, something new is introduced in football and almost immediately, we wonder how we managed without it.
Within weeks of three points for a win being introduced in England in 1981, fans in divisions one to four could not imagine going back to the old two-point system. Getting used to goalkeepers not picking up backpasses took a little longer, but not much.
Asian fans are now wondering why the ‘three plus one’ rule wasn’t introduced years ago – the idea to has been around for that long but until now, clubs in major leagues all over the continent have been limited to three foreign players. With many competitions struggling to get established in the recent past, it is unsurprising that Brazilians were the imports in demand.
For a decade or more, Samba stars that were not quite good enough for Europe – though, naturally, there were exceptions -could often be found in Asia. Rio, Sao Paulo and Brasilia-based agents confessed their bemusement of the blind faith that those in the east placed in samba skills. They didn’t complain though.
Times are a changin’. No longer are Asian teams dependent on boys from Brazil - or Africa and Eastern Europe - when they want to strengthen squads, they can add an Asian player outside the three-foreigner limitation.
This Asian quota has already added an extra dimension to football on the continent, lighting a fuse that is kindling the beginnings of a genuine intra-continental transfer market.
It took the J-league to actually implement the rule in 2008 to start a chain reaction as other nations around the continent followed suit – all helped by the fact that the AFC will allow such a rule in the Asian Champions League from next year.
The global credit crunch is another factor that gave the new rule a gentle push -both in terms of the search of cheaper talent and income from new markets.
South Korea, the home of Asia’s oldest professional league, is at the centre of much of the activity for the time being, importing and exporting at a rate that Hyundai, Samsung and LG would approve of.
There have been Koreans in the J-league since the beginning. Japanese clubs like the never-say-day attitude of their neighbours as well as the fact that, compared to other nationalities, they adapt to the language and culture relatively easily. The likes of Hong Myung-bo, Hwang Sun-hong and Ahn Jung-hwan all enjoyed fruitful spells across the East Sea.
The Asian quota has taken things to a different level and the fact that the Japanese yen has gained in strength in recent months against the Korean won has made shopping in Seoul, something that Japanese tourists know all about at the moment, very attractive.
Gamba Osaka, feeling the effects of the credit crunch less than some others, paid over $3 million to bring former Shimizu S-Pulse hero Cho Jae-jin back from his K-league sojourn. Unsung Ulsan defender Park Dong-hyuk went with him. Lee Jang-soo left Suwon for Kyoto while Park Won-jae defected from Pohang to Omiya.
K-League clubs have been quick to plug the positions left by the eastwards bound stars. Lee has been replaced by former Chinese captain Li Weifeng at Suwon. Old ‘Big Head’ may soon be joined in the Land of the Morning Calm by compatriot Feng Xiaoting though the Chinese New year festivities interrupted what could be a lengthy transfer saga.
Incheon United, the first Korean club to call for the quota, fittingly became the first to take advantage by signing Socceroo defender Jade North, Seongnam signed Sasa Ognevoski from Adelaide and there are one or two other teams that have also put out A-league feelers.
Australians, attractive due to the relatively low wages paid in the A-League, are in demand in China too. Shanghai Shenhua, also linked in the Chinese media to John Aloisi, are interested in Australian international Mark Milligan while Beijing Guoan have Ryan Griffiths.
Shanghai striker Gao Lin could be on his way down under next season but Australian teams seem unwilling, or unable, to embrace Asian talent. The spirited Gao has more to offer than the likes of Robbie Fowler. Attempts to drum up concrete interest in the ex-England man among Japanese and Korean clubs got nowhere. Instead, he is considering a lucrative deal offered by North Queensland Fury.
In contrast, Seol Ki-hyeon didn’t think twice about swapping a Premier League bench for a place in Asia. The Fulham forward recently became the first South Korean to appear in the Saudi Arabian league, joining Riyadh powerhouse Al Hilal.
West Asia has been slower of the mark though the region’s leagues have been in full swing. UAE clubs looked at former Middlesbrough marksman Lee Dong-gook while Qatari spies recently returned from the A-League.
It would be perhaps too much to expect south or south-east Asians playing in the Far East just yet. The prejudice and ignorance that exists in clubs in China, Japan and Korea with regards to players from countries such as India, Vietnam and Indonesia will take time to overcome.
Sooner or later it will happen, we have come so far in just a few months. It all makes for a satisfying sight. For years, more has divided Asian football than has united it, but this new transfer market is a big step in the right direction.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
Within weeks of three points for a win being introduced in England in 1981, fans in divisions one to four could not imagine going back to the old two-point system. Getting used to goalkeepers not picking up backpasses took a little longer, but not much.
Asian fans are now wondering why the ‘three plus one’ rule wasn’t introduced years ago – the idea to has been around for that long but until now, clubs in major leagues all over the continent have been limited to three foreign players. With many competitions struggling to get established in the recent past, it is unsurprising that Brazilians were the imports in demand.
For a decade or more, Samba stars that were not quite good enough for Europe – though, naturally, there were exceptions -could often be found in Asia. Rio, Sao Paulo and Brasilia-based agents confessed their bemusement of the blind faith that those in the east placed in samba skills. They didn’t complain though.
Times are a changin’. No longer are Asian teams dependent on boys from Brazil - or Africa and Eastern Europe - when they want to strengthen squads, they can add an Asian player outside the three-foreigner limitation.
This Asian quota has already added an extra dimension to football on the continent, lighting a fuse that is kindling the beginnings of a genuine intra-continental transfer market.
It took the J-league to actually implement the rule in 2008 to start a chain reaction as other nations around the continent followed suit – all helped by the fact that the AFC will allow such a rule in the Asian Champions League from next year.
The global credit crunch is another factor that gave the new rule a gentle push -both in terms of the search of cheaper talent and income from new markets.
South Korea, the home of Asia’s oldest professional league, is at the centre of much of the activity for the time being, importing and exporting at a rate that Hyundai, Samsung and LG would approve of.
There have been Koreans in the J-league since the beginning. Japanese clubs like the never-say-day attitude of their neighbours as well as the fact that, compared to other nationalities, they adapt to the language and culture relatively easily. The likes of Hong Myung-bo, Hwang Sun-hong and Ahn Jung-hwan all enjoyed fruitful spells across the East Sea.
The Asian quota has taken things to a different level and the fact that the Japanese yen has gained in strength in recent months against the Korean won has made shopping in Seoul, something that Japanese tourists know all about at the moment, very attractive.
Gamba Osaka, feeling the effects of the credit crunch less than some others, paid over $3 million to bring former Shimizu S-Pulse hero Cho Jae-jin back from his K-league sojourn. Unsung Ulsan defender Park Dong-hyuk went with him. Lee Jang-soo left Suwon for Kyoto while Park Won-jae defected from Pohang to Omiya.
K-League clubs have been quick to plug the positions left by the eastwards bound stars. Lee has been replaced by former Chinese captain Li Weifeng at Suwon. Old ‘Big Head’ may soon be joined in the Land of the Morning Calm by compatriot Feng Xiaoting though the Chinese New year festivities interrupted what could be a lengthy transfer saga.
Incheon United, the first Korean club to call for the quota, fittingly became the first to take advantage by signing Socceroo defender Jade North, Seongnam signed Sasa Ognevoski from Adelaide and there are one or two other teams that have also put out A-league feelers.
Australians, attractive due to the relatively low wages paid in the A-League, are in demand in China too. Shanghai Shenhua, also linked in the Chinese media to John Aloisi, are interested in Australian international Mark Milligan while Beijing Guoan have Ryan Griffiths.
Shanghai striker Gao Lin could be on his way down under next season but Australian teams seem unwilling, or unable, to embrace Asian talent. The spirited Gao has more to offer than the likes of Robbie Fowler. Attempts to drum up concrete interest in the ex-England man among Japanese and Korean clubs got nowhere. Instead, he is considering a lucrative deal offered by North Queensland Fury.
In contrast, Seol Ki-hyeon didn’t think twice about swapping a Premier League bench for a place in Asia. The Fulham forward recently became the first South Korean to appear in the Saudi Arabian league, joining Riyadh powerhouse Al Hilal.
West Asia has been slower of the mark though the region’s leagues have been in full swing. UAE clubs looked at former Middlesbrough marksman Lee Dong-gook while Qatari spies recently returned from the A-League.
It would be perhaps too much to expect south or south-east Asians playing in the Far East just yet. The prejudice and ignorance that exists in clubs in China, Japan and Korea with regards to players from countries such as India, Vietnam and Indonesia will take time to overcome.
Sooner or later it will happen, we have come so far in just a few months. It all makes for a satisfying sight. For years, more has divided Asian football than has united it, but this new transfer market is a big step in the right direction.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
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