While the EPL booms, SE Asia goes backwards
Domestic fare is unpalatable, so fans can be forgiven for feasting on European teams
The money season is officially upon us. Of course, when you have revenues in excess of US$4 billion as the English Premier League did this past year then it is always money season. But here in this part of Asia the cash grab is even more pronounced.
When the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham and Sunderland kick off the Barclays Asia Trophy at Hong Kong Stadium tonight, they will not be the only Premier League teams in the region. All the big boys are here.
If we are not careful, football may develop into a game of greed - a trend I shall vigorously oppose
League champions Manchester United played in Japan last night after wowing Bangkok and will be in Hong Kong on Monday, while Arsenal have visited Indonesia and Vietnam and are in Japan this week. Chelsea have appeared in Thailand and Malaysia, and will be in Indonesia tomorrow, while Liverpool have also visited Jakarta and will be in Bangkok on Sunday
These are heady times for EPL fans in Southeast Asia and it's interesting to revisit comments made some 10 years ago by the head of Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in regards to Europe's pillaging of Asian resources and revenues.
Fifa supremo Sepp Blatter said in 2003 that Europe's top clubs "conduct themselves increasingly as neo-colonialists who do not give a damn about heritage and culture".
He added: "If we are not careful, football may develop into a game of greed - a trend I shall vigorously oppose."
Now stop laughing for a moment and ignore the fact that Blatter is one of the most scandal ridden and vilified sporting officials of our modern era whose hubris and greed are of legendary proportions.