Australia’s FFA Cup winners must be given a ticket to Asia’s Champions League otherwise it’s just a trophy with no meaning
Has the FFA Cup become a trophy without significance? As Adelaide prepares to defend its crown against Melbourne City on Wednesday, Val Migliaccio argues why the winner deserves a spot in the AFC Champions League.
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So what does winning the FFA Cup actually mean for the 736 Australian clubs that participated this year?
This is surely a legacy which the new independent A-League can own to bring the football community closer.
What is the end goal for the FFA Cup winner? For now a trophy and $50,000 for the victory.
That’s as good as it gets when Adelaide United or Melbourne City face off in the sixth FFA Cup final at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday night.
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That’s not much when you compare what a knockout trophy win means in serious football nations.
England hands their FA Cup winner — if they’re not in the Premier League’s top five — a direct Europa League spot and a chance to win about $14 million for claiming that prestigious competition.
Italy’s Coppa Italia, France’s Coupe de France, Germany’s DFB-Pokal and Spain’s Copa del Rey use the same format where the knockout cup winner earns Europa League status.
Perhaps we can’t be that dramatic in Australia because currently the Asian Football Confederation only offers our nation two and a half AFC Champions League spots because there’s only 11 A-League clubs.
However, there is no valid reason why Wednesday’s FFA Cup winner cannot be part of the 2021 AFC Champions League preliminary play off.
It’s fair to award the A-League Premier’s Plate and the grand final winner (championship) winner a spot in the Asian Champions League. But to give the half spot away to a third-placed finisher in an 11-side league really takes away from the FFA Cup where a win in the final should have much more standing in the scheme of the beautiful game.
Surely every club participating in the FFA Cup dreams of being on the big Asian stage. So why deny them?
OK it may be a long shot to ensure clubs are compliant to qualify for stringent Champions League guidelines.
But why can’t clubs such as SA amateurs Brahma Lodge, Old Ignatians, Elizabeth Downs or NSL giants Adelaide City or West Adelaide have that chance to join Asia’s elite.
After Adelaide United claimed the 2014 inaugural FFA Cup the Reds took this very argument to the Court of Arbitration for Sport as it had every right to challenge for a Champions League automatic spot for claiming the knockout silverware.
They lost the argument even though Central Coast Mariners was prepared to give away its Champions League play off spot.
However, that closed-shop mentality is slowly disappearing.
It’s up to all the FFA Cup 736 clubs to make noise — winning the trophy is great but it can’t be as good as it gets.
Give the winner a chance to become kings of Asia.
And the FFA Cup winner should also have chance to take on the A-League champion in a Super Cup — but that’s a debate for another day.
Originally published as Australia’s FFA Cup winners must be given a ticket to Asia’s Champions League otherwise it’s just a trophy with no meaning