Rugby Exclusive

www.iasbet.com  – THE AFC Champions League received a huge boost on Tuesday with the prize money for next season’s revamped tournament massively increased to US$14 million

Asia’s top club competition will be expanded from 28 to 32 teams in 2009, but with stricter criteria for participation in an effort to raise standards.

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Mr Tokuaki Suzuki, deputy chief of the AFC’s Professional League Project, said the extra money on offer would provide clubs with motivation to meet the new requirements to compete.

‘The new budget means there is much, much more revenue for clubs participating in the tournament,’ Mr Suzuki said at an AFC managers seminar here.

‘This will give clubs the incentive to be more professional so they meet the requirements to take part in the competition.’

The total budget for 2009 is US$20 million, dwarfing the US$4.0 million available for this year’s event.

Of that, 70 per cent is dedicated to prize money and incentives, with the eventual winners taking home US$1.5 million plus bonuses from earlier rounds. A victory in the group stages will be worth US$40,000.

‘This means that even if a team cannot qualify for the round of 16, they still have an incentive to do well in the group matches,’ said Mr Suzuki.

The AFC is attempting to make football in the region more professional and has laid down tough new rules for entry into the 2009 Champions League.

Teams wishing to play have had to satisfy the governing body that they meet certain standards regarding team affairs, attendances, marketing, stadiums, and media arrangements.
So far only 11 countries have made the grade, with just one – Japan’s J-League – satisfying all criteria.