There are many facets to the MoU, but undoubtedly the most imaginative is a joint marquee fund. Yep, you heard that right. As both competitions struggle to compete - or simply don't want to compete - with the extraordinary sums being paid by the UAE, Qatar and China for big-name foreigners, they're looking at joining forces. "The idea is to co-invest in players and share them across the two leagues," says Falvo. Half a season in Japan, the other half in Australia. For players who are not entirely focused on money - the sort of players you really want to see - that's an attractive proposition.
Other plans for the MoU include coaching exchanges, administrator exchanges, youth tournaments, leveraging football for closer bi-lateral governmental relations and - significantly - joint promotions when Australian and Japanese clubs play each other in the Asian Champions League. To say both countries are frustrated with the pitiful marketing of the ACL is an understatement.
I really struggle to see how this could fully work, like, the end of the A-League season is the beginning of the J. League and the end of the J. League is the beginning of the A-League.
So say I am Newcastle Jets and we have a marquee, do we not get to use him till January when the J. League season? And if I am Gamba Osaka, do I not get that player back until the end of the A-League season?
It works but horrible for creating good fan connection.
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J-League and A-League look at joint marquee fund
There are many facets to the MoU, but undoubtedly the most imaginative is a joint marquee fund. Yep, you heard that right. As both competitions struggle to compete - or simply don't want to compete - with the extraordinary sums being paid by the UAE, Qatar and China for big-name foreigners, they're looking at joining forces. "The idea is to co-invest in players and share them across the two leagues," says Falvo. Half a season in Japan, the other half in Australia. For players who are not entirely focused on money - the sort of players you really want to see - that's an attractive proposition.
Other plans for the MoU include coaching exchanges, administrator exchanges, youth tournaments, leveraging football for closer bi-lateral governmental relations and - significantly - joint promotions when Australian and Japanese clubs play each other in the Asian Champions League. To say both countries are frustrated with the pitiful marketing of the ACL is an understatement.
So say I am Newcastle Jets and we have a marquee, do we not get to use him till January when the J. League season? And if I am Gamba Osaka, do I not get that player back until the end of the A-League season?
It works but horrible for creating good fan connection.