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."
Soccer Football - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Test Event - Under 18 Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - March 24, 2019 General view outside t
New chapter for Tottenham as stadium hosts first game
Football: Vertonghen to see neurologist over head injury LONDON (AFP) - Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen will see a neurologist on Thursday (May 2) after suffering a horrific head injury during his side's Champions League semi-final defeat against Ajax.
Jan Vertonghen to miss Tottenham's trip to Bournemouth after
Cristiano Ronaldo insists there is nothing to fear after suffering a hamstring injury in Portugal's 1-1 draw against Serbia on Monday, adding that he is "not worried" about it going forward.
Cristiano Ronaldo vows to return in 2 weeks amid fears of
'French Open sucks compared to Wimbledon sucks': Nick Kyrgios courts controversy once again as he takes swipe at Roland Garros before practice session with Andy Murray.
Defending champions Australia made their worst ever start to an Asian Cup on Sunday when they lost 1-0 to Jordan in front of a partisan crowd in Al Ain. Graham Arnold's youthful side had expected
Aussie horror show as Jordan stun Asian Cup champions
Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet Soccer Football - Premier League - Newcastle United v Fulham - St James Park, Newcastle, Britain - December 22, 2018 Fulhams Joe Bryan in action with Newcastle Uniteds Kenedy REUTERS/Scott Heppell (Reuters) - NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 FULHAM 0
Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on February 03, 2019, with the headline 'Irving sends teaser with July 1 remark'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
The Teaser Video of Capt. Barrington Irving Flying with the U
After the annus horribilis that was 2017, the only way is up for Singapore football. So with the New Year upon us, here are five hopeful wishes for the local game in 2018. 1. Build a star overseas
Albirex Niigata sweep Singapore football awardsagain
Barca lead the standings on 77 points after 33 games. Barcelona's Luis Suarez shoots at goal during the match against Real Sociedad on April 20, 2019.
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad
LONDON • Whoever said the magic of the FA Cup was dead should have paid a visit to Kingsmeadow, The Den and the New Meadow on Saturday.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Magic of the FA Cup alive and well - theworldnews.net
Ikhsan gets off mark in Norway His team were crying out for a saviour in Oslo, Norway, on Sunday and Ikhsan Fandi delivered. With one minute left and the game against Skeid tied at 2-2, five Raufoss IL players surged into the opponents' penalty box when Mikkel Maigaard whipped in a hopeful cross from the right.
It gave DPMM an opening as the Brunei side climb up to second. DPMM have a game in hand and are 7 points behind the defending champions. Win their game in hand and it is only 4 while the top 2 clashed in their next meeting and any result other than a win for Tampines will benefit DPMM.
NICOSIA (REUTERS) - Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on their way to a comfortable 2-0 away win over Cyprus in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday (March 24)..
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
Japan failed to break down a determined and well-organised Argentine defence in Paris on Monday in the first goalless draw of the Women's World Cup. Argentina hold Japan for historic first World
Women's World Cup: Dogged Argentina Hold Japan to Goalless
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch champions league live streaming now
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch premier league darts live stream
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch champions league live streaming crictime
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch premier league live stream hd
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
free watch champions league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
tv soccer live stream sky
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch live streaming soccer games
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch the champions league live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch live soccer stream android
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch soccer am live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch premier league stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer games live stream free
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch soccer game live now
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch english premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch champions league live streaming kenya
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
#oudmehta #serieatim #football #elcasico #arsenal #Barcelona #GarageCafeDxb #arsenalnews #league1 #champion #manunited #streamingbolaid #winner #chocolate #neymar #gym #zidane #rockstar #mancity #seriea #commentimemorabili #4Series #footballmemes #freekicks #acmilan #coffeebreak #manchesterunited #soccer #bayern #alissonbecker #calciatoribrutti #freekick #oasis #goodday #livesports #arsenalfantv #girlsniteout #ronaldo #hoffenhiem #conference #goal #footballstreaming #Liverpool #realmadrid #risate #liverpoolfans #football #sunderlandafc #bayernmunich #zinedinezidane #fcbarcelona #pagani #roadtrip #midnight #freekickerz #thomasmeunier #ucl #trollfootball #cappucino #manchestercity #satira #nikesoccer #barcelona #Barca #mensnightout #meunier #salah #lovefootball #lfc #adidasslipon #mancityvsliverpool #soccermemes #londoncity #comico #frasitrap #linkstreaming #crossfit #JUVENTUS #soccer #gunners #beatifulgame #petercrouch #soccerbible #footballmeme
No comments:
Post a Comment