The often mooted ASEAN Super League – a regular competition featuring the best football clubs from amongst South East Asia’s 10 nations – is unlikely to be further discussed until next year.
The FA of Singapore formally proposed the ASL in 2006 but, as yet, has been unable to confirm support from the major ASEAN Football Federation members.
Even the AFF’s Southeast Asian Champions League, organised in Indonesia in 2003 and in Brunei in 2005, has failed to garner interest.
As later incorporated as part of the winning consortium’s bid for the Singapore Sports Hub, the ASL's aim is to provide a season-long, home-and-away competition for the best club sides in South East Asia.
According to the Straits Times, uncertainty surrounding the leadership of football federations in Indonesia (PSSI) and Thailand (FAT), along with some resistance from member nations, means 2013 would be the earliest launch date for the competition.
“The league, endorsed by the ASEAN Football Federation, still needs final approval from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. Progress has been slow, but some details appear to have been hammered out. Between 12 and 16 of the region's top club sides are slated to take part ... Bigger countries like Malaysia and Indonesia can enter two or three teams, while smaller nations like Singapore will have a lone representative. Each team will be given an annual budget of about $2 million, and at least $1 million has been set aside as prize money,” wrote Terrence Voon.
While Vietnam is reportedly cool on the concept, a “source close to the organisers” advised the Straits Times that the ASL “enjoys strong backing from Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.”
No decision has been made yet on the structure of the league such as whether participating teams will be existing clubs drawn from domestic leagues or brand-new franchise teams.
The FA of Singapore formally proposed the ASL in 2006 but, as yet, has been unable to confirm support from the major ASEAN Football Federation members.
Even the AFF’s Southeast Asian Champions League, organised in Indonesia in 2003 and in Brunei in 2005, has failed to garner interest.
As later incorporated as part of the winning consortium’s bid for the Singapore Sports Hub, the ASL's aim is to provide a season-long, home-and-away competition for the best club sides in South East Asia.
According to the Straits Times, uncertainty surrounding the leadership of football federations in Indonesia (PSSI) and Thailand (FAT), along with some resistance from member nations, means 2013 would be the earliest launch date for the competition.
“The league, endorsed by the ASEAN Football Federation, still needs final approval from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. Progress has been slow, but some details appear to have been hammered out. Between 12 and 16 of the region's top club sides are slated to take part ... Bigger countries like Malaysia and Indonesia can enter two or three teams, while smaller nations like Singapore will have a lone representative. Each team will be given an annual budget of about $2 million, and at least $1 million has been set aside as prize money,” wrote Terrence Voon.
While Vietnam is reportedly cool on the concept, a “source close to the organisers” advised the Straits Times that the ASL “enjoys strong backing from Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.”
No decision has been made yet on the structure of the league such as whether participating teams will be existing clubs drawn from domestic leagues or brand-new franchise teams.