The gulf between football in Europe and Asia (which for footballing purposes includes much of the Middle East) is wide, but Japan and Saudi Arabia are determined to narrow it
, in Europe, is the pinnacle of club football. Such is its prestige that other regional associations have affixed “Champions League” to their equivalent competitions as a way to entice fans. But in Europe it is not just the moniker that captivates them. When Manchester City take on Real Madrid in one of the semi-finals next month, viewers will witness a contest between footballing giants, the world’s best and fourth-best teams, according to rankings compiled by Opta, a sports-statistics company.
“Japan’s Way”, as the country’s football association calls its development strategy, is multi-pronged and meticulous. Drawing on European examples, it concentrates on strengthening four pillars: the national team, youth football, the quality of coaches and the grassroots game. Clubs are required to run youth academies; there are even prescriptions for the type of player they should produce.
Saudi Arabia is also spending money to bring European football closer to home in other ways. On January 16th Barcelona defeated their bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final—played in the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. The Italian Super Cup took place at the same venue two days later. Al-Nassr, a Saudi team, are reportedly paying Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portuguese superstar, around $200m a year—the highest wages in football. And the splurge is not limited to players.
Yet this form of financial largesse can hinder long-term development. Foreign players in Saudi Arabia tend to be fading stars. Mr Ronaldo, for example, is 38. The Saudi league is more retirement home than finishing school. And the riches offered by local clubs mean that few Saudis venture abroad to compete in tougher European leagues. Indeed, every player in the team that beat Argentina in the World Cup played professionally at home.
Belgique Dernières Nouvelles, Belgique Actualités
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