Reds' Asian dream turns sour

The Reds have been drawn into the group phase of the lucrative competition and are due to face Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor in the first group match of the 2012 event on 6 March.

But Adelaide's participation in Asia's blue riband club event has been thrown into disarray after an extraordinary sequence of events across two continents.

At the centre of the issue is Indonesian club Persipura.

Persipura does not form part of the newly formed Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and was excluded from the ACL, paving the way for Adelaide's lucky draw into the competition.

However sources in Asia warned that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not expect an appeal against the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to demand the reinstatement of Persipura to succeed.

”The CAS does not usually change its position in these matters,” the source said.

”And the AFC will always abide by the CAS rulings because it is in its constitution to do so.

”So I would be greatly surprised if the AFC has not drawn up alternative measures to accommodate Persipura.”

There is now a strong likelihood the Reds will face Persipura in a playoff at a venue yet to be determined for the right to play in the competition the A-League side thought it had already qualified for.

Adelaide is claiming a gross miscarriage of justice and has started a legal fight to maintain its status in the competition, especially since it has already outlayed some $100,000 for its first away game in Tashkent in March.

”This whole case is a farce because the CAS has made a fundamentally wrong decision,” Adelaide chairman Greg Griffin said.

”The CAS needs to listen very carefully to our submission because Persipura's case is flawed and we will appeal any decision that might go against us.

”How can we be expected to play somebody from a rebel league?”

A final decision is expected this week

Adelaide has A-League matches against Gold Coast United (a), Sydney FC (h), Newcastle Jets (a) and Perth Glory (h) before the start of the ACL and an extra match against Persipura would put a burden on its playing and financial resources.

Adelaide made a strong run to the 2008 ACL final, beating Bunyodkor 3-2 on aggregate in its semi-final tie, before being humbled over two legs against Gamba Osaka in the final.