2021 AFC Cup groups revealed

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The groups for the 2021 AFC Cup have been revealed at a group stage draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After the 2020 AFC Cup was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition is set to begin with preliminary stage and play-off matches in April and May.

Group stage matches are then scheduled to kick off on May 14 – while the final of the tournament will be played on November 26.

“The 2021 AFC Cup Group Stage will see 39 clubs competing – an increase of three from 2019 – with a newly-introduced Group for the Central Zone,” the AFC said.

“This edition will also award the winning team a place in the preliminary stage of the 2022 AFC Champions League.”

Group A (West Zone) features 2019 AFC Cup Champions Al Ahed FC from Lebanon alongside Al Hidd from Bahrain, Al Wahda from Syria and Al Nasr of Oman.

Jordan’s Al Salt, Palestine’s Balata Center, Lebanon’s Al Ansar and Jordan’s Muharraq make up Group B (West Zone).

Group C (West Zone) includes Tishreen from Syria, Al Seeb of Oman, Al Faisaly from Jordan and a play-off winner.

Group D (South Zone) is made up of ATK Mohun Bagan of India, Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings, Maziya S&RC of the Maldives and a winner from the play-offs.

Tajikistan’s Ravshan, FC Dordoi of Kyrgyz Republic and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan are in Group E (Central Zone).

The second central zone group, Group F, features FC AGMK or FC Nasaf from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan’s Altyn Aysr, FC Khujand of Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic’s FC Alay.

Group G (ASEAN Zone) comprises of Hanoi FC of Vietnam, Indonesia’s Bali United, Boeung Ket of Cambodia plus a play-off winner.

Malaysia’s Kedah Darul Aman, Lion City Sailors of Singapore, Vietnam’s Saigon FC and a play-off winner will be placed into Group H (ASEAN Zone).

The third ASEAN Zone – Group I, features Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines, Myanmar’s Shan United or Ayeyawady United, Terengganu FC of Malaysia and Geylang International FC of Singapore.

Eastern Long Lions of Hong Kong, Tainan City of Chinese Taipei, Mongolia’s Athletic 220 and Hong Kong’s Lee Man will play against each in Group J (East Zone).

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Daniel Foley is a sports junior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and micro industry matters.

Ned Morris to step down as Adelaide United chair

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Image credit: PxHere website

Adelaide United have confirmed that Ned Morris will step down as chair after a mutual agreement and will continue in an advisory role with the club.

Morris spent 18 months in the role and Adelaide United has stated they will carefully evaluate the future of the chair position, making sure it aligns with their long-term goals.

Morris and the club have acknowledged that there will be significant challenges along the way, with the internal restructure now complete.

In addition, Adelaide United felt the time was right for a shift towards a local South Australian approach.

Morris reflected on his time serving as chair at Adelaide United and said he is still ready to show the club’s full support:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 18 months working closely with the United family on behalf of Australia’s best A-League fans, the Reds,” he said in a media release on the club’s website.

“I am very confident that we have put in place the right vision, strategy, and key personnel to see the Club achieve ultimate success in the very near future.

“I remain committed to working with Adelaide United in an advisory role and look forward to supporting our men’s and women’s teams ahead of the 2024-25 season.”

Major shareholder and ownership representative at Adelaide United, Cor Adriannse, said about Morris’ contribution to the club:

“We have greatly enjoyed working with Ned over the last 18 months. He has been a tremendous asset to the Club, especially in navigating the difficult post-COVID phase for both the Club and the league,” he said in a media release on the club’s website.

“We deeply appreciate the improvements he has driven alongside our management team. Ned will always remain connected to the Club, and we intend to continue working together in one capacity or another.”

Throughout Morris’ tenure, he drove key developments such as the high-performance program investment strategy, establishing a global partnership with Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven and appointing Ernest Faber as Technical Director in May this year.

He also expanded the Youth Football Scholarships, renegotiated a five-year tenancy at Coopers Stadium and successfully approved several government funding grants.

Key concerns for FIFPRO’s Player Workload Monitoring report

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Image credit: Jude Bellingham Instagram

FIFPRO has recently released their annual Player Performance and Recovery report for 2024, this report is developed by FIFPRO IQ in conjunction with Football Benchmark, a leading data and analysis group on football business.

The report explains in detail the problems facing professional footballers by leaders within the industry and the players themselves. This report not only factors in the physical impact of the sport but also the psychological impact.

FIFPRO’s Player Workload Monitoring tool (PWM) the primary system behind this report monitors 1500 players spread across 100 leagues and 150 nationalities.

They have pointed out the obvious lack of appreciation by tournament organisers for the physical and mental well-being of football players and an evident lack of organised calendar planning.

Acting FIFPRO General Secretary Stephane Burchkalter stressed the importance of this report via press release:

“We release these reports for a good reason. Because, today, we face one of the most serious and urgent problems in our sport. A problem that results from the abuse of governance and a failure of the duty of care. The holistic workload that confronts our players is unprecedented. It has produced a physical and mental fatigue that is now dangerous.”

With increased match loads, travel loads and shortening of preparation the risks have never been higher with 54% of PMW players experiencing excessive or high-demand workloads.

88% of players’ time is recorded to be spent in the workplace environment and 17% in national team environments.

The world-renowned Uruguayan coach Marco Bielsa stated via press release:

“To ignore the consequences of the number of games and amount of travelling will end in injuries for any player.”

This report identifies that some players have seen their free time fall to nearly 12% of the calendar year, which adds up to less than a single day off per week. This fails to comply with international Occupational Safety and Health standards.

There have been calls for a guaranteed rest period which 72% of players and 78% of coaches support.

As the demand for games grows and the push for more revenue skyrockets, the players see their health and voices continue to deteriorate.

This report and FIFAPRO highlight the firm action that needs to happen to protect the stars of the sport.

For more information about the report, read more here.

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