THE role of cigarette companies in the development of Asian soccer has come sharply into focus within the last fortnight with the news that the Chinese government plans introducing an advertising and sponsorship ban that would strip Chinese sport of valuable income from local and multi-national brands.
The howling that has come from those marketing and sporting quarters most affected may strike the casual observer as a bit rich. To suggest such a ban would doom sport in China also stretches the point.
But what cannot be forgotten is the extremely beneficial impact cigarette sponsorship has had on soccer in Asia.
Such a view is supported overwhelmingly by the facts in this case and although such an opinion might be controversial, it nonetheless remains true.
Consider the evidence: American giants Philip Morris have substantial stakes through their brand Marlboro in the soccer leagues of China, Hong Kong and the Philippines and also were solely responsible for the birth of the AFC's popular Dynasty Cup tournament.
British tobacco company Rothmans of Pall Mall, through their brand Dunhill, have a similar stake in the leagues of Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.
The Japanese firm Japan Tobacco International, through the Mild Seven brand, are an official sponsor of the Asian Football Confederation and are regular supporters of the Japanese J.League.