QPR owner wants SE Asia league

Tony Fernandes, whose AirAsia is the world's biggest budget airline and who has already founded a regional basketball league, says the idea had long been a dream of his.

"I have always dreamed of an ASEAN football league. I will put money in an ASEAN league," Fernandes told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, referring to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Fernandes founded the ASEAN basketball league in 2009.

He said a Southeast Asian football league could help to improve the overall quality of football in the region.

"We started the ASEAN basketball league. It will be great to have an ASEAN football league like the European (Champions League). It will be exciting to see players from Malaysia and Singapore play," he said.

Football is extremely popular in the region.

"We just need more competition. If they (Malaysian teams) play every day in a league like the Premier League we would have a great team.

"For me it is very sad. In the semi-finals of the Olympics, it is Japan against South Korea. When I was young we beat Japan and South Korea. The difference is they have a very competitive league," he said.

"Probably one day we can do something," Fernandes said, smiling, but declining to say whether any plans existed.