Vietnam, Eto'o, Iraq And More – Asia's Top Ten Events Of 2008

10. Dramatic Iranian title for Persepolis

There have been few, if any, title wins as dramatic as this. Persepolis had been on top of the Iranian league for most of the season but a mid-campaign loss of form and a deduction of six points left them two points behind Sepahan going into the final day of the season. 

Sepahan, were also visitors to Persepolis’s Azadi Stadium for that final match. As well as the Yellows from Eshefan, over 100,000 fans made the journey. In the 96th minute all hell broke loose as Sepehr Heidari headed home. 

9. Maldives Win South Asian Cup

What happens when a tiny island of 300,000 defeats a giant neighbour with a population of over one billion? We found out in the summer as Maldives downed India in the final of the South Asian Football Federation Championships. Male erupted in joy. 

8.Rivaldo and Zico (and almost Eto’o)  in Uzbekistan 

In recent years Uzbekistan had started to establish themselves as a force in Asian football but few outside the giant continent knew what was taking off in Tashkent. That all change in the summer. First, Bunyodkor made an audacious bid for Samuel Eto’o. 

The world laughed until the Barcelona man was photographed arriving in Central Asia. That signing never happened but soon after Rivaldo joined the team. Within weeks, Zico took the reins. A domestic championship and a last four finish in the Asian Champions League followed. 

7. Vietnam’s South-east Asian Win

A triumph that showed how much football can mean to a nation. It came right at the end of the year and it sparked a party that no New Year’s Eve has ever been able to produce in Hanoi,Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. 

The Golden Stars did it the hard way – defeating the two tournament favourites. First, defending champions Singapore were defeated in the semi-final and then co-hosts Thailandwere stunned in the final. Can Vietnam take it to the next level? That is a question for 2009. 

6. Iraq players training in Baghdad

In September the Asian champions finally returned to Baghdad to train. It was the first time that Iraq had appeared in the capital since the fall of Saddam Hussein five years previously. It was an emotional moment and, from a football point of view, it was a reminder of just what odds had been overcome in achieving their continental triumph had been in 2007. 

“It gives us courage to come and train here in Baghdad with a foreign coach,” said goalkeeper Noor Sabri.  “It is very nice and interesting to train in this stadium in front of our fans.” 

5. Gamba Osaka and Japan

For the second year, a Japanese team won the Asian Champions League and for the second year, a Japanese team gave the European champions a stern test at FIFA’s Club World Cup. 

Gamba won the continental prize through good football and while that momentary 5-1 scoreline against Manchester United was a worry, the Kansai club came back and won plaudits all around the world. It was another good year for Japanese clubs in the champions league and the J-league in general. 

4.Olympic failure 

The Asian contingent at the 2008 Olympics had a torrid time. South Korea were the only team that managed to record a win – though the Taeguk Warriors were also eliminated early and returned home to face an unimpressed public. 

Hosts China wished they were anywhere but home. Australia collected just one point but where left wondering where more ambition might have led them and Japan lost all three. 

3. The New ‘Asian Berth’

First introduced by Japan and now springing up all over Asia. This allows Asian clubs to sign players from fellow AFC member nations outside of the usual three-foreign player limit. 

Only when clubs get out of their comfort zones – J-League clubs signing Korean players for example – will we see the potential of this new rule. Already, Arabian clubs are starting to take tentative glances east. 

2. Asian Football Confederation Relocation

2008 saw an issue raised that could split Asian football right down the middle. The Asian Football Confederation has been based in Kuala Lumpur since 1965. President Mohamed Bin Hamman shocked the Malaysians in the summer by inviting bids from other countries interesting in taking on hosting duties. UAE, Qatar and Singapore are interested. 

There is a good deal of disquiet in some quarters about a move to West Asia. The row between Bin Hamman and predecessor Peter Velappan over the issue was far from quiet and far from over.   

1.Qatar’s Ineligible Player And Iraq

The biggest story of the year and it really should have been bigger. Qatar fielded an ineligible player in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Iraq in March, a match that Qatar won. 

Iraqi attempts to have the result of the match overturned were rebuffed – first by FIFA and then by the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The reason? Iraq appealed too late and failed to pay the necessary fees on time. 

There was no disputing that Emerson, the player in question, was ineligible. A sad affair from which, Iraq apart, no party emerges with credit.