Asia buckles up for Champions League

The AFC Champions League kicks off this week with the best of Asian football set to reclaim attention from continuing drama off the pitch. The continental showpiece returns with 16 games from Brisbane to Jeddah on Tuesday and Wednesday, involving five former champions among teams from 10 different countries. South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, beaten to the title by Al Sadd in a thrilling penalty shoot-out last November, will try to reclaim the trophy they lifted in 2006. Deep-pocketed Guangzhou Evergrande head a trio of Chinese clubs eager to demonstrate the Super League's growing clout, while Club World Cup participants Kashiwa Reysol are bidding to bring the title back to Japan. Saudi Arabia's two-time champions Al Ittihad lurk in Group B, while 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar are represented by Al Rayyan, Al Arabi and Lekhiya after champions Al Sadd failed to qualify. In November, ex-Portsmouth defender Nadir Belhadj's winning penalty sealed a shock win over Jeonbuk for Al Sadd, who had been embroiled in a mass brawl on their way to the final. This season's build-up has not been smooth after Indonesia's Persipura Jayapura successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against their exclusion for joining a breakaway domestic league. Persipura then lost their play-off to Adelaide United. But Indonesian football was in focus again last week when FIFA launched a probe into the national team's 10-0 loss to Bahrain. Officials denied corruption was to blame. Next month, banned Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed bin Hammam will take his case to the CAS after FIFA kicked him out of the sport over accusations of graft. The AFC, now headed by acting president Zhang Jilong of China, could hold a congress this year to elect a new permanent leader in a further shake-up for the regional governing body. Guangzhou, who are bankrolled by a leading property firm and won last year's Super League at a canter, will hope to capitalise on their heavy investment in foreign talent including record signing Dario Conca. However, the Argentine midfielder, along with Muriqui, last year's Super League top-scorer, and fellow Brazilians Cleo and Paulo, were all fined by the club when they reported late for pre-season training. Beijing Guoan and Tianjin Teda are China's representatives while Shanghai Shenhua, recently joined by ex-Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka, did not qualify. The AFC Champions League has eight groups of four teams with the top two in each qualifying for the knock-out stage, which starts in May. The tournament replaced the former Asian Club Championship in 2003.