ABU DHABI (AFP) - Football managers used to screaming themselves hoarse during games are finding little need to reach for a post-match lozenge at the Asian Cup - where their voices echo around sparsely-populated stadia.
This month's tournament in the United Arab Emirates has struggled to attract crowds, with some coaches grumbling about the swathes of empty seats at the continent's showpiece competition.
"I personally think the atmosphere of the Asian Cup could be a little more enthusiastic, more exciting," Iran boss Carlos Queiroz told reporters.
"To be honest not only me but the Chinese, everyone, has been talking about it. (They) expected much better and a more enthusiastic atmosphere all over the country and at all the stadiums."
Hosted under the slogan "Bringing Asia together", the Asian Cup has so far fallen short of persuading enough of the region's fans to turn up and watch games.
Iran look one of the teams to beat, but barely 5,000 watched them thrash tournament first-timers Yemen 5-0 in their opening game at Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed stadium - a venue that seats 40,000.
Barely a thousand more showed up to watch holders Australia and four-time champions Japan reach the quarter-finals, while even hosts UAE have played at half-empty grounds.
"We were expecting a bigger turnout," Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, chairman of the UAE General Authority for Sports, told AFP.
"We are surprised by the lack of UAE fans too," he admitted in an interview. "This is a culture that I hope will change. Loyalty must always be there - win or lose."
Teams have complained of poor facilities with one from the Middle East accusing organisers of "cultural insensitivity" for suggesting their players use the hotel pool to recover from games despite many of the deck-chairs being occupied by bikini-clad holiday makers.
Meanwhile, fans have spoken of being asked by Asian Cup officials to leave their allotted areas to fill seats directly opposite the television cameras.
Just a couple of hundred witnessed Qatar's 6-0 demolition of North Korea in Al-Ain as locals snubbed the game and the long-running blockade of the Gulf state by its neighbours meant it was played in an eery silence.
UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni bizarrely blamed "cold weather" for another disappointing turnout when his side beat Kyrgyzstan 3-2 in extra time to reach the last eight this week.
"Maybe they preferred to stay home and watch it on television," shrugged the Italian, opening another can of worms.
Oman coach Pim Verbeek wanted to watch Asian Cup matches on TV but was puzzled to find they were largely unavailable at hotels, many of which don't show Qatari rights holders beIN Sports.
"It's a pity the games are not on television," shrugged the Dutchman. "I miss that in this tournament."
Usual suspects in the frame at expanded Asian Cup The Saigon Times Daily Iran coach Carlos Queiroz appeals for a VAR review during the match at Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia June 25, 2018 - PHOTO: REUTERS
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending someone to spy on Derby County in training - but insisted it was "not illegal". Derby called police on Thursday morning following reports
Football: Leeds manager Bielsa admits sending spy to Derby
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Thursday (Friday morning, AEDT) to sustain their English Premier League title bid. City shook off consecutive defeats to coast past Southampton 3-1 at St Mary's on Sunday, with David Silva and Sergio Aguero on target and James Ward-Prowse netting an own goal.
Pep Guardiola challenges Manchester City to beat Liverpool to
Manchester City net two late goals to register a dramatic 3-2 victory over Schalke 04 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Germany. However, Leroy Sane came off the bench to
Champions League: Leroy Sané haunts Schalke as City stage
Football; Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid 03/03/2019 Tell your friends. Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar on Sunday left the door open for a potential move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Neymar hints at joining Real Madrid - msn.com
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says his team must play with the freedom of their youth to overcome Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday night, adding they will need
Tottenham v Liverpool Champions League final will be 'amazing
Football: Lukaku double inspires Man United to 3-1 win at
By Matt McGeehan Manchester United dumped holders Chelsea out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 fifth-round win at Stamford Bridge to leave Maurizio Sarri's position as Blues head coach ever more precarious.
Football: United dump holders Chelsea out of Cup to pile
Son Heung-min earned a penalty and then assisted on his team's second goal to help South Korea beat China 2-0 at the Asian Cup help South Korea beat China 2-0 in Group Asian Cup win 3-1
Son Heung-min helps South Korea beat China 2-0 at Asian Cup
London - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined £45 000 by the Football Association (FA) on Thursday for suggesting referee Kevin Friend had favoured West Ham in his side's 1-1 draw at the
Football: Liverpool's Klopp fined over referee comments
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach. France coach Corinne Diacre is hoping to guide Les Bleues to the women's World Cup title next year on home soil AFP.
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
worldsoccertalk.com/2018/12/17/women-in-football-face-daily-battle-says-france-coach/
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach AFP December 17, 2018 AFP No Comments Hong Kong (AFP) - Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media coverage of female players.
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
LONDON (AFP) - Ryan Giggs has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's criticism of the "Class of 92" by insisting players with "over 2,000 games between us" are entitled to have an opinion about
Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd 'Class of 92'
Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's fighting spirit as he sets points target for title. Mohamed Salah ran from inside his own half to find the net for the first time in nine Klopp said: "The
Klopp sets Liverpool a huge points target and hails Anfield
watch champions league live streaming now
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch live soccer game today
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
free watch soccer live streaming
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch premier league stream reddit
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming tv
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch champions league live stream uk
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch the premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch live soccer online free streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch premier league live streaming video
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer games live stream free
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch champions league final live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
free watch champions league live streaming
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch live streaming soccer games
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
#gooners #portsmouthfc #Barca #gym #oasis #golazo #crossfit #liverpoolcity #Bar #mancityvsliverpool #cr7 #coys #salah #4Series #freekicks #mane #leicestercity #24x7 #roadtrip #hoffenhiem #noelgallagher #zidane #soccerbible #streamingbolaid #paulmcartney #premierleague #jadwalbolahariini #goal #ucl #calciatoribrutti #league2 #england #Suarez #serieatim #boxing #myfootballuniverse #oasisengland #commentimemorabili #manchesterunited #juventus #football #henderson #championship #hotcoffee #nikesoccer #liverpoolfc #comico #gunners #pagani #fcbarcelona #commento #seriea #footballmemes #realmadridcf #insegreto #nationsleague #soccer #barcelona #adidasslipon #Barcelona #realmadrid #kickoff #firmino #vandijk #ignoranza #manchestercity #coffeebreak #GarageCafeDxb #visubal #Liverpool #footballfans #Celtic #watchlive #bayernmunich #arsenal #realmadrid #afcnews #mancity #frasirap #footballschedule #cappucino #knuckleball #chocolate #oasisandbeatles #rugby #lionelmessi #livestreaming #Liamgallagher #satira #golf #manchestercity #battuteepiche
No comments:
Post a Comment