The likes of Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda and Yuto Nagatomo all play their club football at the highest level, and Zaccheroni wants his team to perform to the same standard as it prepares for the decisive run of games in Asian qualifying.

"I'll remind my players we are a team that needs to play with intensity in order to perform. Intensity requires high concentration," Zaccheroni said.

"This is the method used by teams in the most important leagues; Bayern, PSG, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus are all teams playing high-intensity football.

"This is the football style I'd like my team to play."

Japan leads Group B in the fourth round of Asian qualifying by six points and has two matches remaining in early June, against third-placed Australia and bottom side Iraq.

If it avoids defeat to the Socceroos or if Iraq fails to beat Oman on the same match day, Japan will qualify for the tournament in Brazil 2014.

"The idea is that we should control our own qualification and not worry about other results," Zaccheroni said.

"I expect the team to do well and we will rely on our technical skills, balance and intensity."

If Japan qualifies for next year's finals, Manchester United star Kagawa is likely to play a big role in determining how far it advances in Brazil.

Zaccheroni will be hoping his prized attacking midfielder brings his best form which has seen him enjoy plenty of success throughout his young career.

"I think Kagawa is used to being a winner," he said.

"He won two consecutive leagues with Borussia Dotmund, he won the DFB Pokal, he won the Asian Cup, in the last few years he has won several titles.

"I hope he's still hungry and wants to win more trophies."

Out-of-contract Ryan is pondering personal terms with Europa League bound Danish Superliga outfit Randers.

Bojic has already agreed terms with Sydney FC after being granted a release by the Mariners from the final year of his contract - which the club confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

Bozanic, who signed a new deal in March until the end of the 2013-2014 season, is on the threshold of joining the growing list of Aussies in Korea.

Central Coast’s board met on Monday and agreed to accept a training compensation fee of $180,000 for 21-year-old fringe Socceroos custodian Ryan, who has made 78 appearances since his debut in 2010.

Crucially, the deal will also net the Mariners about 20 per cent any future on-sale fee for the shot-stopper if he heads to Denmark.

Ryan, whose mooted trial with Ligue 1 outfit Lille appears to be off the agenda, was also wanted by League One side Sheffield United - with both Randers and the Blades pledging to make him No.1 next season.

But it seems Randers - managed by former England international defender Colin Todd – has won out, assuming Ryan agrees to the wage package on offer.

Bojic, 29, another of coach Graham Arnold’s mainstays over the past five years will join the Sky Blues after seeking and being granted a release.

The Sydney-based right-back made 123 appearances since his debut in 2008 but was an unused substitute in the 3-0 ACL Round of 16 second leg defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande.

Bojic's departure will pave the way Young Socceroos defender Hayden Morton – who has made two A-League appearances to date - to fill the void left by one of Arnold’s most experienced and reliable performers.

Former Young Socceroos midfielder Bozanic, 24, could join the duo in heading out of Gosford with an unnamed K-League side offering a fee that has triggered a release clause in his contract.

Bozanic, who is highly rated by Arnold, was hampered by injuries this season and only started 10 A-League games – including the grand final.

He came off the bench in both leg of the ACL tie with Guangzhou - which the Mariners lost 5-1 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, highly-rated centre-back Trent Sainsbury will trial with perennial Swiss UEFA Champions League representative FC Basel this month – assuming he is not named in the Socceroos squad for June's World Cup qualifiers – and could also be on his way abroad.

Attacking threat Bernie Ibini was due to trial with Ryan at Lille, but may now be staying put – for the time being.

Ahmed Eid said such access could be granted 'soon', raising the possibility that 15 per cent of the under-construction King Abdullah stadium in Jeddah could be made into family boxes, where women could watch matches.

The stadium is due to be finished next year.

But the subject immediately triggered a wide-ranging debate in the Saudi media, with unfavourable opinion forcing the official to issue a clarification that he was merely expressing a personal opinion.

Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia, which applies a strict interpretation of Islamic or Sharia law, bans men and women mixing in public and access for women in public areas.

Women's sport in the kingdom is virtually non-existent, although some young girls do take part in private schools under certain conditions.

"The question is the responsibility of the relevant authorities," said Eid. "The decision to allow women into stadiums is not one for any of the sporting federations."

The head of Saudi sport, Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, said only that he had nothing to add to Eid's clarification.

Saudi Arabi recently saw the first woman in a sporting arena when she and one of her 'legal guardians' were at a show-jumping competition in the eastern province of Al-Ahsa.

A 'legal guardian' is a Saudi woman's close relative without which she cannot travel overseas or to a public place where men may be present.

Some Saudi women supporters have also travelled to Kuwait to cheer on their football club, Al-Fath, in a regional competition.

But they were turned down when they asked to be able to watch the return leg at home.

In January, South Korean and Japanese expatriate women were allowed to watch matches in a Asian handball competition and female Saudi journalists covered the event.

Saudi Arabia is hoping to organise the finals of football's Asian Cup in 2019.

Should it be successful, it will be required to reserve spaces for women supporters, according to the rules of organisers, the Asian Football Confederation.

The debate comes after a young Dubai-based Saudi woman, Raha Muharraq, on Saturday became the first from the kingdom to scale the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.

Last year, Saudi Arabia came under international pressure to allow two female athletes to compete in the Olympic Games in London.

The International Olympic Committee allowed a judo player and a runner to take part with their heads and body covered, in compliance with Sharia law.

Graham Arnold’s side troubled the moneyed Chinese champion in last week's round of 16 first-leg, when the visitor needed a lucky rebound, a Central Coast mistake and a 76th-minute goal from Brazilian forward Muriqui to eke out a 2-1 win.

Now, coach Arnold is convinced that his players have a chance of getting the away goals they need if they can deliver a similar performance in Wednesday's second-leg at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium.

"I've watched the DVD a couple of times and if we play the way we did in Gosford and we take our chances then everything is possible," Arnold said.

"We're fit and we've only got one competition to focus on.

"They had to play us last Wednesday then fly back and play on Saturday night. We're fit and fresh and we'll give it our best shot."

The Mariners arrived in China on Sunday but had a setback when they lost most of Monday's training session to a downpour. Still, midfielder Nick Montgomery said the squad remained confident.

"We created so many chances before they scored in the first leg," Montgomery said.

"We are playing against some top-class opposition and I think we matched them for most of the game.

"If anything we took confidence that we can create chances and that we can win the game."

Arnold expects Marcello Lippi's side to offer up just as much space for the Mariners as it did in Gosford. It will be up to Australia's lone representative in the competition to exploit it judiciously.

"We're 90 minutes away from reaching the last eight in Asia and that's the way we've got to look at it," Arnold said.

"But you can't win a game in the first half, usually you can only lose it. We've got to play with our brains, use common sense and do our jobs.

"It's important we don't concede early. If we concede in the first half it will pretty much be game over, as then we'll have to get three. We need to go out there and make sure we are defensively strong."

Whatever happens, with a three-month break until the next round, this will be the final match of a gruelling season that has the Central Coast players criss-crossing Asia while still managing to pick up their first ever A-League title.

The grand final win over Western Sydney was undoubtedly the highlight of the club’s campaign but Montgomery says reaching the last eight in Asia would be huge.

"Wednesday is a massive game and a massive achievement for me as a player and the Mariners," Montgomery said.

"The AFC Champions League is so big across Asia.

"For me it's definitely up there with the biggest games I've played in. We're looking at 40,000 people in a nice stadium against a great team. These are the nights you play football for."

Atletico, brandishing the trophy it won in dramatic fashion, is making a whistle-stop visit despite still being involved in Spain's La Liga, in which it will play its penultimate game this weekend.

"The first thing to do is to rest and sleep," cautioned coach Diego Simeone, at a packed press conference where he appeared next to the gleaming trophy.

"It's a very good feeling to have the feeling of winning two days ago and here, two days after, in Singapore on a high note."

Atletico will play a Singapore select team on the artificial turf of the wealthy, Southeast Asian city-state's 8,000-capacity Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday.

It has enjoyed a heady weekend, after it won 2-1 against Real - whose coach Jose Mourinho and star player Cristiano Ronaldo were both sent off - and went on an open-top bus parade in front of thousands of fans in central Madrid.

"It's a dream come true after such a good season," captain Gabriel Fernandez said of the win against Real. Atletico has also secured third place in La Liga behind Barcelona and Real.

"The team achieved a good position and this is the best way to end the season, beating our arch-rivals Real Madrid in the King's (Spanish) Cup. All the players were very happy to finish the season on a high note."

Atletico, whose prolific striker Radamel Falcao is attracting strong interest from other clubs, is at the head of the queue this year as the some of Europe's best teams head east to bolster their ranks of Asian fans.

Barcelona and Manchester United, the champions of Spain and England respectively, and Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal are all expected to draw large crowds to their friendly games and publicity sessions in the coming weeks.

Manchester United will play its first games under new coach David Moyes, while Arsenal will break new ground by becoming the first English Premier League team to play in Vietnam.

After winning all three of their matches on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday, the Jets finished on top of Group B with nine points and a goal difference of plus 13.

Newcastle faced Group C runner-up Hong Kong FC A in the quarter-finals, notching a 4-0 victory in hot and humid conditions on Sunday morning. Ruben Zadkovich, James Brown, Jacob Pepper and Joey Gibbs all scored in the comfortable win.

The Jets had the unenviable task of toppling the defending champion when they faced the Singapore U-21 national team at the semi-final stage.

After falling behind 1-0 early, the Jets drew level from a Zadkovich free-kick.

Taylor Regan’s goal a short time later was enough to seal victory for Newcastle and ensure it reached the grand final.

They faced Asian Champions League participant Chonburi FC in the decider, with Regan getting the Jets off to the perfect start with a classy individual goal.

Sam Gallaway doubled the Jets’ advantage a short time later, before Chonburi hit back to make it 2-1.

However, Regan was once again in the right place at the right time, finishing from close range after Zadkovich’s long-range strike was spilled by the Chonburi goalkeeper.

A late strike from James Brown sealed victory for the Jets, whose players opted to donate their prize money to the children’s orphanages that competed in the youth division of the tournament.

The 31-year-old will complete the final year of his deal in 2013-2014, with the Sky Blues extending the contract for a further season, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2014-2015 season.

The former Johnny Warren Medallist will finish the current season with Bani Yas, which currently sits in third position, before flying back to Sydney for a break before starting pre-season training with the Sky Blues.

“I’m really happy to be coming back to Sydney FC,” Carle said. “I enjoyed my experience in Abu Dhabi with Bani Yas but Sydney is home and I want to finish my career with Sydney FC.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Sydney FC, working with Frank Farina and doing my best for the club.

“I’ve spoken to a few of the players and there’s a real determination to get stuck into pre-season training and make sure we’re ready for the start of the season to improve on what was a disappointing season for the club last year.”

Carle played two seasons with the Sky Blues in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, playing 42 matches and scoring seven goals, as well as making five appearances in the 2011 AFC Champions League, which included one goal.

Sydney FC coach Frank Farina was thrilled Carle had decided to return to the Sky Blues as he overhauls his squad.

“It’s great news that Nick has confirmed he’s coming back to Sydney FC,” Farina said. “I have been planning for the season thinking he would be in the squad but to have it confirmed is a positive. He’s a quality player and adds a lot to our attack.”

Carle will start training with Sydney FC on 19 June and is expected to take part in the Sydney FC v Sagan Tosu friendly in Japan on 24 July.

He replaces Serbian Radojko Avramovic, who led the city-state to three Southeast Asian championships.

Sixty-five-year-old Stange's career includes a stint with Perth Glory in the National Soccer League and also leading Belarus during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign where it defeated France in an away qualifier.

Under his watch, Belarus saw victory over Netherlands and draws against traditional football powerhouses Germany and Argentina.

Its FIFA ranking rose to 36 in 2011, from 90th place in 2008.

"The post of national team head coach is always a challenging one for any coach - more so in a country like Singapore where football is the number one sport and whose national team are now champions of the region," said Stange, who also coached Iraq and the former East Germany.

"I am deeply honoured to have been appointed from a pool of more than 100 qualified candidates."

President of the Football Association of Singapore, Zainudin Nordin, described Stange as "one of the most respected coaches in Europe today".

He said the German "brings with him a wealth of international experience, ability and track record of building and managing successful teams despite the constraints".

Stange replaces Avramovic, who stepped down last year after leading Singapore to three championships in the Suzuki Cup, a biennial event organised by the ASEAN Football Federation.

Singapore is ranked No. 165 in the world by FIFA.

The eight Estonian players each received a one-year ban for receiving money from a bookmaker while the Lebanese player was banned for life after an investigation into betting and corruption.

A FIFA statement added: "The Estonian FA has specified that the bans are temporary at this stage, as more evidence and information is currently being gathered."

The first leg of the round of 16 matches saw Thai outfit Buriram take on Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan at Buriram’s New I-Mobile Stadium.

With Australian referee Ben Williams taking charge of the match, the home side managed to sneak a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Anawin Jujeen (17 minutes) and midfielder Ekkachai Sumrei, who headed home a Jirawat Makarom free kick in the 77th minute. Igor Taran had earlier struck a goal in first-half injury time to equalise for Bunyodkor.

Buriram is the first Thai team in a decade to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League.

It was a far tighter affair inside the Beijing’s Workers Stadium as Beijing Guoan struggled to score, despite FC Seoul going down to ten men after having Choi Hyo-Jin sent off at the 60 minute mark.

The return leg will be played on 21 May at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Kick-off for the Central Coast Mariners’ Round of 16 match against Marcello Lippi’s Guangzhou Evergrande is 19:30 AEST on Wednesday from Central Coast Stadium.

The Italian World Cup-winning coach was in Terrigal as his Chinese Super League side prepares to face Central Coast Mariners in its round-of-16 Asian Champions League clash at Bluetongue Stadium on Wednesday.

It was a media conference like no other as Lippi sat flanked by three translators - Italian/English, Chinese/Italian and English/Chinese - in a packed room of dozens of journalists all eager to quiz one of the world's most decorated managers.

Lippi was graceful, happy to field several questions and - contrary to the short, sharp responses his translators offered - appeared to go on at length in his answers.

The Italian maestro has five Serie A titles to his name from his time at Juventus where he also won the UEFA Champions League in 1996.

He has transformed Guangzhou, guiding its to the Chinese Super League championship, China Cup title and has the side sitting in top spot on its domestic ladder.

Most notably, however, Lippi was at the helm of Italy's 2006 triumphant World Cup side that also knocked out Australia.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold was Socceroo mentor Guus Hiddink's assistant at that time.

"I've only had one experience with Australian football and that was at the World Cup," Lippi recalled as the translators did their best to repeat the trilingual response after each question.

"It ended up in a win in the 94th minute and we then went on to win the World Cup, so it was a very good experience for us."

Lippi revealed he's in constant touch with his former Juventus charge Alessandro Del Piero and sought his advice on the Mariners.

He said when he heard the news of Del Piero's move to Sydney, he was not surprised.

"No, I wasn't shocked when he came to Australia because, in the end, we both had the same idea," he revealed.

"After so many years of having experience in Italy, we both thought to go somewhere far, another continent and have a new experience."

But would Lippi ever consider following in the Sydney FC star's footsteps and make a move to the A-League?

"Who knows? It may happen," he said.

"It's a very beautiful and civilised country so, if there is an opportunity, I would definitely think about it."

After being held to a 2-2 draw by Oman in Sydney in March the Socceroos are now left in third place in Australia’s World Cup qualifying group with three games remaining.

A frustrated Cahill, who's moment of aerial brilliance along with a Brett Holman screamer salvaged a draw, said after the match:" There's a lot of young players and inexperience. I'm happy for the youngsters that they're getting the experience but it's going to be a difficult run into the campaign."

Australia now meets Japan away next month before hosting Jordan and Iraq later in June.

Sainsbury, along with fellow Mariner Mitchell Duke, Western Sydney midfielder Aaron Mooy and Newcastle's Craig Goodwin, has been called in to a Socceroos training camp on the Central Coast this week as coach Holger Osieck takes advantage of the A-League off-season to assess more youngsters he may want to blood.

Sainsbury, who had a stellar season as a defender for the championship-winning Central Coast side, says while he's still just "pinching himself" about even being selected for the camp he's not taking the opportunity lightly.

"I don't know if there's a word to describe how much I want to prove myself to Holger," he said.

"I'm going to give it everything I can and just try to get as much advice from him as possible."

The 21-year-old said all the other youngsters were just as driven and Cahill's words only served to further motivate them.

"With Timmy saying that, of course you have to give the older guys credit for what they've done over the years and if they're still performing then they deserve to be in the team," he said.

"But those younger boys, myself included, we've all got ambition to play at that highest level with the Socceroos, so hearing that it definitely will motivate us to want to prove we're just as deserving."

A 12-man Australia-based squad is in training on the Central Coast this week as the Socceroos begin preparations for their crucial match against Japan in Saitama on 4 June.

Having drawn 2-2 with Oman in March, Australia is now precariously placed, sitting third behind leader Japan and second-placed Jordan in the qualifying group – only ahead of Oman on goal difference.

Only the top two sides gain automatic qualification to next year's showpiece with the third finisher to face further play-offs.

But North, who spent two years playing in Japan's top-flight with FC Tokyo and Consadole Sapporo before joining Brisbane, says world Japan still fears the Socceroos side.

"We have our backs to the wall now," North said.

"But that Aussie spirit is something that we've grabbed when we've needed it and I think now we really need it.

"People will say: 'Japan are a strong side, they're leading the group', but I think they fear us more than the other way around.

"I played there and I know their mentality and I know they don't like the physicality of the Aussie style of play and that team spirit we have.

"I'm confident we can do a job in Japan."

Much has been made of Socceroos coach Holger Osieck's team selection for the Oman match.

One was that North, with 39 caps to his name, sat on the bench while Michael Thwaite and Robert Cornthwaite formed an untried central defence in suspended captain Lucas Neill's absence.

It was a decision Osieck later admitted may have been a mistake.

Neill will be back for the Japan game and North, who has partnered with him before, says he's ready to do the job.

"Looking back at the (Oman) game, I'm sure Holger has his eye on a few players and has a few ideas of what he'll do next time," North said.

"But he keeps his cards pretty close to his chest.

"If the boss plays me then that's great. I know I can do the job, I've done it before so fingers crossed."

The camp, which finishes on Friday, is being held in conjunction with one for the Young Socceroos side which is preparing for the FIFA under-20 World Cup in Turkey next month.

Much to Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold's delight the 12-man squad will face the A-League champion later in the week in a game to be played behind closed doors.

Arnold suggested the game in an effort to keep his charges match-fit ahead of their Asian Champions League match against Guangzhou Evergrande next week.

In front of FIFA President Joseph Blatter and Confederation Presidents Jeffrey Webb (CONCACAF), Michel Platini (UEFA) and David Chung (OFC) at the AFC Congress last week, the support for Dodd was emphasised by her being re-elected unapposed as AFC Vice-President.

The former Matilda received a glowing endorsement, not just from Al Khalifa, but also from the Kuwait Football Association, who urged delegates to back Dodd for the FIFA Executive Committee and demonstrate its committment and continued unity. The comments were met with loud applause from across the floor.

Addressing the 47 football nations attending the AFC Congress, President Blatter praised AFC for the progress it has made in promoting women to senior leadership positions on the Executive Committee, and noted that FIFA’s reform process includes positions for female representatives on its Executive Committee.

“What a realisation after 108 years, what patience for the women and what a stubborn organisation for men not to accept women in their organisation - but this will be changed now,” said Blatter.

Dodd was delighted with the widespread support, saying: "I’m delighted to have the confidence of a unified Asia, and I am working hard to persuade the rest of the football world too. Football will be better, fairer and stronger with women more involved, and I would love to make a contribution at FIFA’s top table.”

Dodd is a former vice-captain of the Matildas, with an international playing career that spanned nine years from 1986 – 1995. She is currently a Partner at Gilbert+Tobin lawyers, having worked in law, media and economic consulting, and has an Executive MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management.

The vote for the FIFA Executive Committee Female Member will be conducted at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius on 31 May 2013, among all FIFA’s member associations globally.

The Saitama-based side is this season's surprise frontrunner and stretched its lead at the top of the league to three points.

Milivoje Novakovic set it on its way to its seventh win in the 18th minute while Takuya Aoki sealed the triumph shortly after half-time.

Yokohama F. Marinos fell three points behind Omiya after substitute Fabio Aguiar rescued a 1-1 draw for Kashima Antlers with his last-gasp strike.

Aguiar was only introduced from the bench in the closing stages and rewarded manager Toninho Cerezo with the leveller in the final minute.

Takuya Nozawa's 73rd-minute effort looked to have been enough to seal the three points for Yokohama.

Kazuma Watanabe bagged a brace as FC Tokyo held off some spirited late resistance at Sagan Tosu to triumph 3-2.

The visitor looked to be cruising when Keigo Higashi's 28th-minute goal and Watanabe's double after the interval put it 3-0 ahead but Yohei Toyoda's 77th-minute penalty and substitute Kota Mizunuma's strike in the final minute set up a tense finale.

Masaki Yamamoto left it late to fire Kawasaki Frontale to a 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus.

Jungo Fujimoto looked to have earned a share of the spoils for Grampus with his 83rd-minute strike to cancel out Yu Kobayashi's goal shortly before half-time but Yamamoto popped up after 87 minutes to give the home side all three points.

Albirex Niigata also emerged a 2-1 winner at Shimizu S-Pulse, who set up a tense finale through Yasuhiro Hiraoka's 84th-minute goal.

The visitor seemed firmly on course for a comfortable night's work when Kengo Kawamata and Sho Naruoka scored in the 52nd and 58th minutes respectively but it was hanging on in the closing stages after Hiraoka struck.

Vantforet Kofu also survived a late scare to beat Jubilo Iwata 2-1.

A brace of penalties either side of the break from Hugo Almeida put Vantforet firmly in the ascendancy and while Hidetaka Kanazono halved the deficit in the final few minutes, Jubilo could find no way back as it slipped to its sixth defeat of the campaign.

Yoichiro Kakitani (79' and 88') put the seal on Cerezo Osaka's 3-0 win over Shonan Bellmare after Hotaru Yamaguchi had given it the lead just after half-time.

The former Leeds United and Aston Villa boss had taken the claim to FIFA after his dismissal one year into a three-year contract.

The League Managers' Association (LMA) said despite having sacked O'Leary, Al Ahli claimed the Irishman had abandoned his job.

"Club officials had openly stated to the media at the relevant time that there had been a dismissal," an LMA statement read.

The club also argued that FIFA lacked jurisdiction to hear the claim.

FIFA rejected both lines of defence and awarded O'Leary, who was backed by the LMA and represented by Paul Gilroy QC and solicitor Michael Kennedy, the full sum due under his contract.

O'Leary said: "It has taken a long time to deal with this matter but I am pleased that all issues have now been finalised.

"I hope my case provides reassurance to all managers and coaches working all over the world that there is a formal system in place that provides employment protection."

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA, thanked the Football Association for its help in taking the case to FIFA.

Bevan said: "We are clearly delighted with the outcome. In addition, the LMA is extremely grateful to the FA for their assistance in initiating the process with FIFA.

"The added significance and wider impact of this process is the proof that FIFA has mechanisms in place which regulate worldwide employment issues.

"It is extremely encouraging to know that the world governing body can provide a means of redress for managers and coaches at all levels seeking to establish their employment rights, wherever in the world they happen to work."

Blatter said on Friday that "we have to have a better balance" because the two most powerful continents could have 19 of the 32 teams in Brazil next year.

"You are a powerhouse, you must be aware of your powerhouse," the FIFA boss told the 46 Asian Football Confederation member federations at the AFC Congress.

Asian teams - including Australia - fight over just four guaranteed World Cup spots, with a fifth available in an intercontinental playoff. For 2014, the playoff will be against a South American team.

Blatter's proposal to increase Asia's World Cup representation at the expense of Europe should broaden his voting bloc against UEFA president Michel Platini, who is expected to run for the FIFA presidency in 2015.

"Perhaps we should not change a lot but we have the right, and you have the right, and I have the obligation and the responsibility to bring this matter to discussion," Blatter said.

Since the World Cup was expanded to 32 teams at the 1998 tournament in France, the knockout stage has been dominated by European and South American teams.

They represent 63 countries - less than one-third of FIFA's current 209 members.

"There is no chance to kick them out before one of them is in the semi-finals," Blatter lamented to his Asian voters.

In the 32-team era, Korea Republic is the only team outside Europe and South America to reach the semi-finals.

No team from Asia or the 35-nation CONCACAF region, which includes Mexico and the United States, has reached the quarter-finals at the past two World Cups.

Still, those confederations have succeeded at the 2012 London Olympic Games and FIFA youth tournaments, Blatter noted.

"That means if you have same number of participants from all continents that there is a balance of strength and a balance of forces," Blatter said, drawing applause from delegates.

Blatter also noted that half of FIFA's revenue - which totals more than $1 billion each year - comes from Asian broadcasters and sponsors.

The Americas provides 30 per cent and "Europe is left with less than 20 per cent," Blatter said.

The Bahraini gathered 33 votes to the seven attained by Thailand’s Worawi Makudi and six for Emirati Yousef Al Serkal – the decision announced to a chorus of support from his key backers inside Kuala Lumpur’s Mandarin Hotel.

Saudi contender Dr. Hafez Al Medlej withdrew from the contest on Wednesday but the final vote was expected to be much closer than it was.

The result means Shaikh Salman will assume the remainder of the term of disgraced former leader Mohamed Bin Hamman – a period that runs until early 2015.

Speaking after the vote the head of the Bahrain Football Association said the day marks a new dawn for Asian football.

“Now is the time for fairness and transparency. We need concrete reforms and we need to be accountable for our actions,” he said in his first address as Asian football's president.

“We shall apply principles of good governance at every level and we need to have our funds managed according to the principles of good governance.”

His election was well received by the Australian delegation, which is believed to have cast its vote for the Bahraini.

FFA Chairman Frank Lowy told The World Game Shaikh Salman’s victory was welcomed.

“We are very pleased at the result and we will be fully supportive of his presidency,” Lowy said.

“We had discussions with Shaikh Salman and we believe that the reforms that have been started will be positive for the AFC and for football.

“He’s elected for two years and that should be enough time to re-establish the sustainability and co-operation within the AFC.”

In more good news for Australia, FFA Director Moya Dodd was re-elected unopposed as an AFC Vice President.

“The fact that Moya was re-elected unopposed shows she enjoys widespread support within the AFC,” Lowy said.

“Moya will give Australia a voice at the AFC’s top table and contribute to football development over Asia.”

Dodd, an AFC Vice President since 2009 and the Chairwoman of the AFC Women’s Committee, was the only candidate for the position, the term of which runs until the next AFC Congress in 2015.

"I am delighted to be re-elected as AFC Vice President and very grateful to our Member Associations for their confidence in me,” Dodd said.

"The opportunities for Asian football are second-to-none. I look forward to working with our new President to better serve football, and especially women's football, on our diverse continent."

Prior to the vote for a president, FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter had addressed the AFC Congress and in a pointed speech made clear reference to the fact that the real winner will be the victor in the 2015 election.

“You have overcome difficulties in Asia and you will now have a restart. But I call it an intermediary restart where you have two years to put your house in such an order that the AFC, in the context of the world, can play its part – the part that Asia deserves,” he said.

Shaikh Salman though refuted suggestions that he is merely a stop-gap president.

“The AFC needs a strong leader and I am that man; I will establish a code of ethics within the AFC and make sure that everyone is accountable for all actions and decisions they take,” he said.

The day started with some early drama as the Congress was asked to allow Brunei, which had been suspended for failing to participate in the required number of tournaments, to have the right to vote.

That was passed with 35 associations supporting it and with Brunei’s vote expected to go the way of Shaikh Salman, it was an indication of how the final count may unfold.

In the end it was a surprisingly comfortable margin, a result that the victory said points to a newfound unity in Asia.

“The nature of the AFC got confused; now it’s my personal duty and moral obligation to unite our family,” Shaikh Salman said.

In the day’s other election, for an Asian spot on the FIFA Executive Committee, Shaikh Salman also emerged victorious, seeing off a challenge from the man who masterminded Qatar’s 2022 World Cup bid campaign, Hassan Al Thawadi.

A total of 47 member associations were involved in the democratic exercise, with Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy casting the vote on Australia's behalf.

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"Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has been elected as the new AFC President following Thursday’s election at the AFC Extraordinary Congress," an AFC statement read. Shaikh Salman, who has faced claims of outside interference and human rights abuses, defeated the challenge of United Arab Emirates candidate Yousef Al Serkal (six votes) and Thailand’s nominee Worawi Makudi (seven votes) in the first round of voting - with as many as 33 of the votes.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was in attendance and addressed the congress before the election process commenced.

"It is a historical day because it is a day of election, a day of election in your confederation that has been in a difficult situation during the past two years," Blatter said.

"And together you have overcome all these difficulties and now you are in this situation where you are going to have a restart.

"But I would identify this restart as an intermediary restart because then the right start will be in two years in 2015 ... you have two more years to put your house in order."

Shaikh Salman will now complete the existing term of disgraced former leader Mohamed Bin Hammam - up to 2015. At which point another election will occur.

So far from a period of sustained stability, several leading officials from the region have already said that campaigning for the next election will begin early next year.

"My mission is to reunite our confederation. My mission is to lead our family towards a future of growth and prosperity, a future based on good governance and integrity," Shaikh Salman said in his first address as AFC President.

"Today, the Asian football family is at a crossroads. Today we have the power to erase a chapter in our history."

Despite a sometimes personal and petty campaign, beaten candidate Al Serkal was quick to back Shaikh Salman's appointment.

"I congratulate Shaikh Salman, the competition between us was honest and i strongly support him"

The presidential election result was greeted by loud celebratory cheers and shouts in Arabic from the floor after a speedy process.

In the day’s other vote, Shaikh Salman defeated Qatari Hassan Al Thawadi for a place on FIFA’s Executive Committee.

Australia's Moya Dodd was confirmed unopposed for the position of AFC Female Vice President.

Shaikh Salman's AFC Presidential manifesto pledges are:

:: Reunite the Asian Football Community
:: Safeguard the universality of the Laws of the Game
:: Re-establish the relationship between FIFA and the AFC
:: Ensure full financial transparency
:: Guarantee equality in the fair distribution of AFC commercial revenues
:: Improve the level of all AFC competitions
:: Introduce technology at AFC competitions
:: Reinforce the financial support available for both refereeing and coaching courses
:: Ensure women's football receives the support it deserves
:: Embrace the social responsibility the AFC has towards all members

Salman, a controversial candidate accused of being complicit in human rights abuses involving players in his country, trounced his opponents to win in the first round of voting in Kuala Lumpur.

The sheikh is viewed as a Blatter ally and his victory could prove significant if the 77-year-old FIFA president follows up his hints that he might change his mind and decide to stand for another term in 2015.

Blatter was quick to congratulate Salman on a "brilliant election" and added: "One of the key missions he will have to ensure is that unity prevails within the AFC."

Salman – who had denied the accusations from human rights groups – received 33 of the 46 votes to win a landslide victory, one which sounds the death knell for any remaining loyalty to his predecessor, Mohamed Bin Hammam, banned for life in December for "conflicts of interest".

FIFA had taken the unusual step of intervening in the election contest to warn that associations were not allowed to entertain any lobbying from Bin Hammam, once Blatter's most loyal supporter who later turned opponent and challenged him for the presidency.

Salman clearly benefited to an extent from Blatter's implicit if not explicit support in his campaign, and there will have been extra satisfaction for the FIFA president in that Salman also defeated Bin Hammam's fellow Qatari Hassan Al-Thawadi – head of the 2022 organising committee – in the election for the FIFA executive committee.

After an election campaign notable for its bitterness and mudslinging, Blatter issued a call for unity.

He said: "Unity, as well as solidarity, are absolutely key and necessary pillars for any institution to build solid plans and structures for its future.

"With two thirds of the world population, Asia clearly plays a huge role in the international football community. But it certainly has not yet reached its full potential.

"AFC shall unite all its energies to continue to strengthen the growth of the Game in Asia."

Thailand's Worawi Makudi won just seven votes and Yousuf Al Serkal of the United Arab Emirates just six after their support deserted them in the final days.

Salman will serve a two-year term until the next AFC Congress in 2015.

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The Bahraini shored up a key block of support Wednesday when the East Asian Federation pledged to back him – delivering nine of the 23 votes he needs to assume the post vacated by the expulsion of former president Mohamed Bin Hamman.

The other leading contender, UAE’s Yousef Al Serkal, though remains confident of success and spent much of the day lobbying for any undecided votes during a frantic 24-hour period that saw both sides issue stern claims of misconduct by the other.

Salman’s camp, through backers in the Kuwait FA, wrote to FIFA alleging that Bin Hamman had been working behind the scenes to secure support for Al Serkal – a former ally of the Qatari.

In response Al Serkal’s camp has once again raised the influence of the Olympic Council of Asia – whose president is Kuwaiti Sheikh Ahmed Al Sabah - in campaigning on behalf of Salman.

They are just part of a cast of fascinating characters gathered in the Malaysian capital as the cajoling and jockeying for influence both inside and out of Asia heats up.

In the one corner of the election venue, the Mandarin Hotel, is the President of the Palestinian FA, Jibril Rajoub – a man who spent almost 15 years in an Israeli jail on terrorist offences, in the next sits the man who masterminded Qatar’s shock 2022 World Cup bid; outside on the terrace a lounging Michel Platini passes the day cradling a pillow while Sepp Blatter and Jerome Valcke follow various Emirs, Sheiks and Princes from one meeting to the next.

Welcome to the world of Asian football politics – a forum where connections and influence carry as much gravitas as a firm policy platform.

While many are calling the vote too close to count what is known is that Salman has the East Asian votes sewn up plus those of his home nation, Kuwait, Palestine and possibly much of South Asia.

Australia is also expected to cast its vote his way.

Al Serkal has loyal support from Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Qatar and will be hoping to pick up votes in central and south-eastern Asia.

With the withdrawal of Saudi challenger Dr Hafez Al Medlej the other remaining contender is Thailand’s Worawi Makudi, who will almost certainly be eliminated in the first round of voting.

The other contentious issue surrounding the vote is how many nations are actually eligible to participate, with Brunei suspended due to not having met the AFC’s criteria of participating in a set number of tournaments over the past two years.

There is, however, an expectation from the Salman camp that it will be allowed to cast its vote later.

At least this time, unlike in the 2009 campaign between Bin Hamman and Salman for a spot on FIFA’s Executive Committee, the votes will be cast in an open booth.

That will eliminate much of the alleged suspicious behaviour from that campaign where candidates were believed to have taken photographs of their completed ballot papers in exchange for cash payments.

In the day’s other vote Qatari Hassan Al Thawadi faces Salman for a place on FIFA’s Executive Committee whilst Australian Moya Dodd will be announced as Asia’s unopposed nominee for one of the three new female spots on the same body.

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With the delegates from Asia’s 47 nations (46 plus one associate member in The Northern Mariana Islands) arriving in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Thursday’s vote the AFC’s usual level of intrigue, back-room deals and power struggles have been evident but so too have petty squabbles.

The two leading candidates – Bahrain’s Shaikh Salman and the UAE’s Yousef Al Serkal – and their backers have both set up camp in the cafe of the plush Mandarin Hotel as they lobby for votes – yet there was a ‘diplomatic incident’ when one group realised that the ‘reserved’ sign sat on their table was smaller than the other’s.

Noises were made, hotel staff hastily summoned and a new sign located – parity between the feuding parties may have been restored but the spat was a sign of the bitterness on display in a vote that is increasingly about connections and influence rather than a firm agenda for change.

Change is what the AFC desperately needs after a 22-month power vacuum created by the suspension of Mohamed Bin Hammam; a period that was characterised by a damming internal report that set out allegations of wide-spread corruption and misdeed.

The acting president, China’s Zhang Jilong, opted surprisingly not to contest the election leaving four nominees.

CANDIDATES

YOUSEF AL SERKAL (United Arab Emirates)

Emirati Al Serkal is a long-serving AFC member having previously held a range of posts within both his own association and the regional body and despite his close ties with Bin Hammam has, thus far, emerged unscathed by the raft of allegations against the Qatari and many of his former associates.

He’s also promised the most far-reached reforms should he emerge successful on Thursday, vowing financial transparency and a unification of the region’s broad sweep of conflicted interests.

As he told me in Malaysia, accountability will be his first item for change.

“The first thing we need is good governance. We need unity, we’re all focusing on politics rather than working for the development of the game. All the book-keeping has to be clear and opened to all member associations.”

SHAIKH SALMAN BIN IBRAHIM AL KHALIFA (BAHRAIN)

The other leading contender is a member of the Bahrain royal family - Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

In 2009 he unsuccessfully challenged Bin Hammam for one of Asia’s slots on the FIFA Executive Committee but after falling only two votes short he announced himself as a major player within the AFC.

He has also talked of the need for financial transparency and is seen as the only contender who will likely look to question how the AFC’s revenue stream is structured.

His role as the head of the Bahrain Football Association during a period last year when several leading players were detained during uprisings against the government has been the main focus of criticism in the western press but in reality will make little difference when the votes are cast.

DR. HAFEZ IBRAHIM AL MEDLEJ (SAUDI ARABIA)

The head of the AFC’s marketing committee, Dr. Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej, has emerged as something of a wildcard candidate.

The Saudi was convinced by a range of leading political players throughout the Middle East to run as a compromise candidate given the squabbles between Al Serkal and Sheikh Salman and has maintained he will withdraw from the race unless the other two Middle Eastern contenders stand aside.

That was expected to have already happened but the fact that, at this late stage, it hasn’t has led to speculation that key powerbrokers in the Middle East are working overtime to convince Sheikh Salman to stand aside, as he told me Tuesday.

“My position is still the same – if I’m not the only Arabic candidate I will withdraw. In the Arabic world we have a council of elder people who may advise Yousef and Salman and bring them together.”

DATO’ WORAWI MAKUDI (THAILAND)

The final contender, Thailand’s Dato’ Worawi Makudi is the only challenger from East Asia but is seen as an extreme outsider.

Long a divisive figure within his homeland he only announced his main campaign goals last week with a shoddily-slapped together website and vague claims to create an Asian ‘football university.”

Without the backing of much of East Asia and many within his own ASEAN region, he will almost certainly be defeated in the first round of voting.

TENSIONS

The catch in this election though is that it’s a completion of Bin Hammam’s existing term – up to 2015 - rather than a new four-year period, meaning whoever emerges successful will only have 18 months to start the reform process that’s so badly needed.

Indeed, several leading officials from the region have already told The World Game that campaigning for the next election will begin early next year – hardly the stability the AFC needs.

It’s highly probable that deals are already being done behind the scenes with the 2015 campaign the main goal – and there’s plenty of lobbying taking place.

The fascinating part of the whole campaign process though is that it shows, clearly, where political power now lies in Asia – in the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.

As the various princes, emirs and sheikhs gathered to horse-trade these past few days, the Koreans, the Chinese, the Japanese and the Australians all stayed well clear of those discussions.

Indeed Football Federation Australia's delegation didn’t arrive in town until less than 24 hours before the vote.

For many in the East – football fans and media alike – this election means little but in the West where titles and prestige rest heavily upon wide shoulders this is a major battle.

More than 200 media have travelled from West Asia, offering live, rolling coverage of every move of each of the contenders – it is a matter of pride that one of ‘their own’ should claim Asia’s top post.

The shame in it all though is that the election is largely being fought along lines of forged loyalty, personal association or the offering of inducements – both legal and otherwise.

Where is the talk of implementing the recommendations in the PwC report, of looking into the connections between Bin Hamman and the execution of vitally important AFC contracts?

Where is the talk of the need – and how – to restructure the continent’s leading tournaments and where is the talk of ending the scourge of match fixing, of players dying because they haven’t been paid and of violence and coercion?

Change is long overdue; the challenge now is for whoever emerges successful tomorrow to forge ahead with a tangible program of reform.

Otherwise, it’s another year and a half of inertia that Asian football can scarcely afford and which players and fans alike scarcely deserve.

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There is however a slightly ‘mysterious’ third party from the Middle East who may yet prove to be a wildcard.

Head of AFC’s Marketing Committee, Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Hafez Al Medlej was a late candidate – apparently persuaded to run by a host of key political figures in the region who viewed him as a ‘safer’ option compared to Al Serkal or Shaikh Salman.

He has maintained though that he will only stand if he is the sole west Asian candidate – and there remains a slight possibility that his original backers may yet convince the other two Arab contenders to step aside.

I sat down with the Al Medlej in Kuala Lumpur to gauge his thoughts on how things may pan out.

TWG: Dr. Hafez, many people are a little confused as to why you’re actually running in this campaign, given there were already two strong candidates from your region. Can you tell us why?

In December last year I was approached by many leaders from the Arab world asking me about the situation in Asia and how I saw the situation with Yousef Al Serkal and Shaikh Salman Al Khalifa running against each other.

At that time the other candidate was the acting president, Zhang Jilong from China, and I told these people that it was in Jilong’s interests to divide the Arab world so for us the best way for us to regain the presidency was to unify West Asia and have one candidate.

They asked me then if I would be that candidate if both Salman and Al Serkal agreed to step aside and I said yes, as long as I am the only one because I didn’t want to turn two candidates into three.

We started talking that day and my position remains the same – if both candidates will withdraw I’ll run.

Yousef Al Serkal has said many times that he’s willing to withdraw for me if Salman did the same but he has never agreed.

We met recently and he refused the idea to unify Asia behind one candidate saying everyone has the right to run and try his luck and it’s a democracy. It makes sense but on the other hand we don’t want to divide the Arab world and I told them I will be there standing if they change their mind.

My intention was to actually withdraw earlier but some other leaders came to me and said that it could happen at any time that they may consider withdrawing.

TWG: Even now, less than 24 hours before the vote you think it’s a possibility?

You see the last few days there have been some allegations here and there and the tension is getting higher and the media coverage is focusing on the negative between the two candidates, so why not?

Maybe one of the wise people in the upper level of sport or government in those countries will come and say, listen enough is enough and we don’t want this tension to go even higher and increase the problems.

I was considering to come here and sit with the two guys and decide but that didn’t happen and then I see things are moving and there’s no difference whether you withdraw one day before the Congress or three days and my position is still the same – if I’m not the only Arabic candidate I will withdraw.

TWG: You must then be confident that there may be a late change and Salman and Al Serkal will withdraw.

I don’t think it will come from them but in the Arabic world we have a council of elder people who may advise Yousef and Salman and bring them together.

People from all the GCC; the best guy to convince Salman will be from Bahrain – maybe the King, maybe the President of the Olympic Committee, the son of the King. I think if he or anyone did this then we have a chance.

The problem is if I withdraw today and then tonight something happens, it’s only Makudi, so I have to delay my decision as long as I can.

TWG: Who were the ‘powerful people’ you talked about who are backing your campaign?

In the Gulf we have the federation, then above them there is the Olympic Committee and then in some countries there is a high council of sport, which is usually represented by a higher level of government ministries.

Also Kings, Emirs and Sheikhs; our situation is like a family structure so sometimes you cannot succeed with organizational structure but with a family structure you get a solution.

So an older Prince or sheikh – older in age and position will come and talk to a federation like Salman and Yousef and tell them what they should do and they will do it.

This is our way – we are different from others in that sense. It’s a phone call that one could receive and it changes everything.

TWG: There’s been a lot of speculation that this campaign for you is a chance to raise your profile ahead of a serious challenge in 2015 – is that correct?

That’s true. If nothing happens and I withdraw then we will have a new President. Everybody will give this President until the end of the year to see how well he is running the AFC because our first priority is to solve the diversity and love-lost with some members of our family.

So, if this new President can bring these people together and solve our problems then I don’t think we need to change that President.

But if not, believe me, then the first of January 2014 you will know if people are running for 2015 or not.

In any job you have a honeymoon or trial period, maybe three months, but in AFC it’s a big organization so maybe six months. So, in December this year people will look and judge this new President if he can bring Asia back together and then if not others will move.

I’m available but we have to think internally in Saudi Arabia who is the best but we will be the first to run in 2015 if there is a new election.

TWG: Finally, East and West Asia – a lot of people have talked about a split. Do you support that and what is the current status of Australia in Asia. There seems to still be some opposition.

I don’t support two federations but I’m a fan of separating the competitions and say the champion of the West plays the champion of the East to avoid issues of travel and timing of the competitions. But there is no need to split the federation because we have strength at FIFA because we are 46 nations.

Australia has added a lot to Asia and there are some good Australians working in and around the AFC. I see the short-term concerns of some that Australia maybe now take one of the World Cup spots and that prevents some countries from qualifying but I don’t like to look in a short-sighted way and in fact I would like to include all of the Oceania nations together within the AFC too.

Then we are more than 50 nations and that makes AFC stronger in FIFA. If I am President that will definitely be something I will put on the table for discussion.

Sheik Salman is the head of Bahrain's football association and helped identify a group of national team players so they could be arrested in the aftermath of the country's pro-democracy uprising in 2011.

While he has not been accused of being involved in the alleged abuse of those players after their arrest, he chaired a meeting in which an investigation into the role of athletes in the protests was launched. He has since done little to publicly defend his players - including several who claim they were tortured.

Two of those players, brothers Mohammed and Alaa Hubail, accuse Sheik Salman of abandoning them. They said they received no apology or compensation from the Bahrain football association for the months of alleged mistreatment.

"We are his responsibility and people like him should solve the problem, not ignore it," Mohammed Hubail told The Associated Press. "I have a lot of anger. I really miss playing in my team and for Bahrain."

Sheik Salman, a member of the country's ruling family, said there is no reason to apologise to the players, insisting that this was an issue for politicians, not the football federation. Bahrain is in the grip of a more than two-year long political crisis inspired by the Arab Spring.

But his refusal to address the allegations could hurt Sheik Salman in the final days of the campaign as he seeks to become AFC Football Confederation president, a position that has been vacant since scandal-tainted Mohammed bin Hammam stepped down at the start of investigations that eventually led to his worldwide ban from football.

Sheik Salman is the front-runner ahead of this week's election in Malaysia. He faces Yousuf al-Serkal of the United Arab Emirates, Worawi Makudi of Thailand and Hafez al-Medlej of Saudi Arabia for the AFC's top job. He's also running against Hassan Al Thawadi, the secretary-general of the Qatar 2022 World Cup organising committee, for a spot on the FIFA executive.

Sheik Salman's opponents have mostly been silent on the alleged rights issue until now, and also have their own baggage to deal with. All three of the other challengers are closely tied to Bin Hammam, who has been banned for life from football after a bribery scandal when he ran for the FIFA presidency.

But rights groups have recently drawn attention to the issue, including the Bahrain Center for Human Rights which demanded FIFA take action to nullify Sheik Salman's candidacy and end the practice of using "the sport as a tool for human rights violations and abuse."

The Washington DC-based group Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain also sent a letter to AFC members alleging that the players were "arrested, detained, abused, tortured, and publicly humiliated."

"In light of the abuses inflicted upon football players ... as well as their ongoing suspension from the sport, we ask that you make the right decision by choosing not to elect Sheik Salman," the group said in its letter.

Sheik Salman has denied the allegations, describing them as an effort to damage his reputation.

"I can assure anyone that the (Bahrain Football Association) is being guided according to the highest possible governance standards of integrity and transparency," Sheik Salman wrote. "No action has been taken under my direction against any member of the football community."

Inspired by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Bahrain's Shiite majority took to the streets in 2011 to demand that the country's Sunni dynasty loosen its control on top government and security posts. After days of mostly peaceful demonstrations, the regime cracked down on the protesters. More than 60 people have been killed in the unrest and thousands arrested.

More than 150 athletes, coaches and referees from a range of sports were jailed after a special committee, chaired by Sheik Salman, identified them from photos of the protests. Some football clubs, all from Shiite villages, were also sanctioned.

Until then, the Hubail brothers and Sayed Mohamed Adnan had been the faces of Bahraini football. They helped lead the small island nation to fourth place in the 2004 Asian Cup and helped get them within one victory of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. They're no longer part of the national squad.

Alaa Hubail won the golden boot in the 2004 tournament and his widespread popularity prompted Pepsi to plaster his portrait on billboards across the capital Manama.

Adnan anchored the defence but he was forced to flee after taking part in the protests, playing first in the A-League with Brisbane Roar and then in Kuwait. Interviewed in Kuwait City, he refused to talk about the protests for fear of putting his family in Bahrain at risk.

"Some people sadly want to end my career because of their belief that I am for this and against that," he said. "I love Bahrain. Playing in the national team of my country is a great honour. I would love to do it any time. I would do it without hesitation."

Asked if the 1-0 win by the Mariners over Suwon Bluewings last Tuesday had left the players with the belief they were capable of winning the Asian Champions League, McGlinchey said: "I wouldn't say we’re capable of winning it, because we're not in the last 16 yet.

“We were on a high after getting the win in Korea, but we haven't reassessed our goals because we're not in a position to do that at this stage.

“We don't want to be talking about anything to do with the last 16. If we started thinking ahead, we would risk ruining our campaign. We would be mad to take that risk.”

The win over Suwon Bluewings, with McGlinchey scoring the solitary goal in a one-on-one battle with the goalkeeper after coming on as a second-half substitute, put the Mariners in second place in their group with one game left.

But exactly what result will be good enough to see them through isn't clear, because third-placed Guizhou Renhe is just two points behind the Mariners and is at home to Suwon Bluewings in the other match.

If Guizhou Renhe wins, then only a win will get the Mariners through.

Two teams qualify from each group for the last 16, and Kashiwa Reysol is guaranteed of advancing in first place because of its four-point lead.

McGlinchey said the Mariners had done pretty well when it came to hitting their season targets so far, and that concentration on the job immediately in front of them was the key to doing that.

"We wanted to win the Premier's Plate, the championship, and qualify for the last 16 in the ACL," he said. "We just missed out on the plate, but we won the championship and now we've got the chance to realise our ACL goal.

“Only if we hit our target will we reassess our ACL goal. If we got caught up in thinking beyond that now, it would be dangerous, but I don't think that will happen.

“We're a group of professional footballers and everyone in that group would understand that the only game we can think about is the one on Tuesday night."

It remains to be seen whether Kashiwa Reysol leave some regular starters behind on this trip, since their position on the table can't be affected by the result.

But there is also the possibility fourth-placed Suwon Bluewings could do the same in the other game, since they can't make it out of the group stage regardless of their result.

McGlinchey said the Mariners have simply got to concentrate on trying to win.

“We're probably the smallest club in the A-League," he said. "Kashiwa Reysol are a big club, with a lot of good players. Whatever team they field, they are going to be hard to beat.

“We've had a fantastic season, and the street parade here in Gosford on Friday to mark us winning the championship was a great way to celebrate that. But now our focus is on this big match on Tuesday, and what we have to do to succeed there."

McGlinchey said the Mariners, forced to travel to Korea the day after winning the A-League grand final and then play the next day, would have gladly taken a nil-all draw before the game against Suwon Bluewings.

“I don't think anyone in the world was dreaming we were going to win, considering the circumstances,” he said. “We were going to be content with a point. A win was going to be a bonus, but we got the bonus, which was great.”

McGlinchey had run the ball into the penalty box countless times during the A-League season and then either taken a shot himself or attempted to set up a teammate.

He said that experience had given him the confidence he needed when a pass from Ole Bozanic put him into the clear against Suwon Bluewings.

“It put me in good stead for that one moment,” McGlinchey said.

In a joint letter, the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights urged Blatter to "distance all violators of human rights from reaching prestigious sport positions".

Friday's call comes less than a week before Sheikh Salman, considered the leading candidate, stands in the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) presidential poll, where the body will elect a successor to the tarnished Mohamed bin Hammam.

Sheikh Salman has been under growing pressure over alleged links to the persecution of players in Bahrain in 2011, during the Gulf kingdom's bloody put-down of widespread pro-democracy protests. He denies any involvement.

"We are writing this letter to urge you to reconsider nominating Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa for the position of the AFC chairman (sic) and the position of membership of the executive office of FIFA in the next due election on 2 May, 2013," the letter said.

"We hope that you bear in mind the sublime principles of sport and fair play that respect basic human rights and to distance all violators of human rights from reaching prestigious sport positions in order to embellish their notorious image."

Blatter has no constitutional power to annul Sheikh Salman's candidacy, but he wields considerable clout and is expected to be in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, for next week's vote and AFC congress.

Sheikh Salman, the head of Bahrain's football association who is also bidding for a seat on FIFA's executive committee, was not available for comment. He has repeatedly denied any link to the detention and alleged torture of players.

Despite the claims against him, he told World Football Insider that he was "very confident" of winning the election. Thailand's Worawi Makudi, Yousef Al Serkal of UAE and Saudi Arabia's Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej are his rivals.

"The target is to reach the 31, two-thirds of the (46) votes. I think it's achievable. This is how confident I am," he told the website.

The AFC is trying to move on from Bin Hammam, after the Qatari was accused of bribery during FIFA's 2011 presidential poll, as well as financial wrongdoing, and was barred from football activities. He stepped down last year.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, who is accused of trying to rig an AFC Cup football match by procuring sex workers for three Lebanese referees, was given seven days in custody because of the new charge.

Ding was being interviewed at the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau on Wednesday when he tried to hide a personal receipt issued by a law firm, according to court documents seen by AFP.

The significance of the receipt was unclear.

"The prosecution sought an order that Ding be remanded for a further period of seven days for further investigations," a spokesman from the Attorney-General's Chambers told AFP.

"The court granted the application."

If convicted of theft, Ding faces a maximum of seven years in jail and a fine.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to three counts of corruption, and was granted bail at Sg$150,000 ($A118,000) on April 9.

Ding is accused of supplying free prostitutes to persuade the three referees to fix an AFC Cup match in Singapore on April 3.

The referees were replaced before the match and are now being held at Singapore's Changi Prison.

The case is a colourful addition to Singapore's long history of match-fixing scandals, including allegations that syndicates in the city-state organised the rigging of hundreds of games worldwide.

Ding and the three referees face maximum prison terms of five years and fines of up to Sg$100,000 for each count of corruption in relation to the match-fixing case.

It was the first life ban for a player in the country since 2008, and adds to the woeful state of football in Southeast Asia's biggest nation as it tries to recover from a crisis which saw rival federations running separate leagues.

The violence erupted when Pieter Rumaropen's side, Persiwa Wamena, was 1-1 against Pelita Bandung Raya in a Super League match on Sunday.

Referee Muhaimin awarded a penalty to Pelita with eight minutes left of the game in Bandung, West Java province - prompting Rumaropen to run up behind the official and hit him in the face with a left hook.

Muhaimin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, began bleeding heavily and was admitted to hospital where he needed four stitches on his lips.

"This was a terrible act that we cannot tolerate," said Hinca Panjaitan, head of the disciplinary committee of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), as he announced the ban after a meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday.

"It has tarnished the image of Indonesian football in the international community, I hope this punishment will repair that."

The match had to be halted briefly for another referee to take over as Muhaimin went off.

The replacement official promptly showed Rumaropen a red card and his side went on to lose the game 2-1 after Pelita scored the penalty.

The life ban, which comes into effect on Thursday, was the first for a footballer in Indonesia for five years.

In 2008, four players received the same punishment after kicking a referee and pulling down his shorts.

Indonesian football was in crisis for two years with the PSSI and the Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee (KPSI) running rival leagues.

The two finally agreed to unite last month, with the KPSI set to become part of the PSSI, after world governing body FIFA threatened to ban Indonesia from international matches if the problem was not resolved.

World football's governing body imposed the sanctions on 23 players and one official already subject to bans handed down by the Lebanese Football Association after an investigation of games at both international and domestic level.

Twenty of the players received one-year bans from all football-related activities while three individuals received two-year, three-year and lifetime bans respectively.

The official caught up in the investigation has been handed a lifetime ban from all football-related activities in addition to a lifetime stadium ban.

"The Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has extended the sanctions to have worldwide effect in accordance with article 78 paragraph 1(c) and article 136ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code," read a FIFA statement.

"This follows investigations by the Lebanese FA-appointed Investigation Committee beginning in January that related to actions of betting and corruption committed by some Lebanese officials and players during certain official matches of the Lebanese national team and other matches of the AFC Cup.

"The Lebanese FA received a final report from the committee and subsequently passed the sanctions before notifying FIFA of its decisions."

FIFA said its president is neutral and "has at no time provided his backing to any of the candidates."

Al-Serkal, the United Arab Emirates Football Association president, reportedly told regional media he "definitely" felt he had Blatter's blessing to replace Mohamed Bin Hammam of Qatar.

Al-Serkal faces Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Hafez Al Medlej of Saudi Arabia and Worawi Makudi, a FIFA executive committee member from Thailand, in May's poll in Kuala Lumpur.

Before meeting Blatter in Zurich last month, Al-Serkal told The Associated Press "if he chooses to announce (support), I will appreciate it. If he chooses not to announce, I will understand."

Lee struck with just seven minutes to go as Pohang claimed its fifth win of the season in which it remains unbeaten.

It was a timely strike given the form of Suwon Bluewings which claimed a 4-1 win at Daejeon Citizen with a hat-trick from Jong Tae-se.

However, it was the host which took an early lead from Lee Wong-hee in the eighth minute but that was as good as it got as it was ahead for just 10 minutes when Jong levelled.

He got his second goal eight minutes later before Stevica Ristic effectively ended the game as a contest when he pounced on the stroke of half-time.

Jong completed his treble two minutes from time as it kept up the pressure in second place.

Lee Hyo-kyun scored twice in the last two minutes as Incheon United moved into third after a 3-1 win over Jeonbuk Motors.

Lee Seung-gi gave Jeonbuk a 29th-minute lead with the home side levelling through Diogo Acosta's penalty six minutes after half-time.

The game appeared to be heading for a draw before Lee Hyo-kyun struck for the first time in the 88th minute and confirmed victory in the final minute.

FC Seoul enjoyed its first win this season as it demolished bottom side Daegu FC 4-0.

The match was over with less than half an hour having been played with Ko Yo-han (16), Mauricio Molina (20) and a Dejan Damjanovic penalty (28) giving it an unassailable lead.

Molina scored his second seven minutes from time.

Brazilian duo Bruno Correa (45th and 87th minutes) and Leo Lima (69') scored Al-Nasr's goals as it downed second-bottom Dibba Al Fujairah, for whom its own Brazilian import Alex pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time.

Fourth-placed Al-Nasr is now two points behind Bani Yas, as is fifth-placed Al-Jazira after its triumph over last-placed Al-Ittihad Kalba.

Al-Jazira wrapped up the points with three goals in 13 minutes either side of half-time through Ricardo Oliveira, Subait Khater and Ali Mabkhout and Al-Ittihad could only respond through Amer Deep's 90th-minute consolation.

In the day's other match mid-table rivals Al-Dhafra and Al-Sha'ab drew 3-3 in an entertaining encounter. Makhete Diop (20'), Mahmoud Awad (38') and Hassan Zahran (83') netted for Al-Dhafra while Faisal Khalil (32'), Michel Laurent (39' and 49') struck for Al-Sha'ab.

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told AFP there was no "credible evidence" in a report which raised fears of possible vote interference on his behalf by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Sheikh Salman, head of Bahrain's football association, also dismissed links to the arrest and alleged maltreatment of leading players and officials during the country's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

The explosive claims threatened to cast a shadow over the May 2 vote in Malaysia, when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will choose a replacement for Mohamed bin Hammam, who stepped down after being accused of bribery and financial impropriety.

"It's not true," Sheikh Salman told AFP, when asked about the vote-interference claims.

"You know how it is. Unfortunately in elections sometimes people would like to come up with some stories without any credible evidence."

"We can talk forever about different things but let's stick to the truth and reality."

His comments come after the Inside World Football website said various sources had accused the OCA of trying to influence the AFC's 2009 leadership vote. Bin Hammam, who won that election, made the same claim at the time.

The report said the OCA appeared to be making "bulk preparations" for the upcoming poll by reserving hotel rooms for the May 2 poll in Kuala Lumpur, and had accompanied the Bahraini royal on his election travels.

Sheikh Salman also denied the allegations over human rights abuses. He said a detailed statement would be released later.

Observers say the sheikh is considered the front-runner among four candidates to lead the AFC, along with Yousef Al Serkal of the UAE, Thailand's Worawi Makudi and Saudi Arabia's Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej.

The Kuwait-based OCA did not give a response to the report when approached by AFP, and the AFC said it had no comment. But two of the sheikh's rivals, Serkal and Worawi, called for a "clean" contest.

"I am keen to see a clean election that is decided by our members without any pressure from outside organisations," Serkal told AFP via email. "We do not need to be surrounded by another possible vote-buying allegation which involves AFC," he added.

Worawi said he hoped the election would be held in a "democratic way".

"I would wish to see a very clean contest. We are all friends in Asia and after the election we need to work together," he told AFP.

The Inside World Football report also said officials from Sheikh Salman's office had identified players and officials from video footage of pro-democracy protests given to it by the Bahrain authorities in 2011.

Bahrain's top striker Alaa Hubail was one of those who was detained and confessed on television, while his brother Mohamed, another Bahrain international, received a two-year jail sentence, reports say.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights said relatives had claimed that both were tortured in prison, the report said. More than 30 players and officials were suspended by their clubs during the crackdown, it added.

Bahrain is in the spotlight this week with pro-democracy campaigners stepping up protests and clashing with riot police in the run-up to the Formula One Grand Prix. Rights groups say 80 people have died in unrest since February 2011.

A victory would have put unbeaten Beijing a point clear of current pacesetter Qingdao Zhongneng, who plays Shanghai Shenhua on Sunday, but Guizhou put an end to that prospect.

The visitor took a 50th-minute lead through Rafa Jorda and although Beijing was back on terms within two minutes thanks to Lei Tenglong, it was thwarted in its bid for a winner.

In the day's other match Dalian Aerbin beat Jiangsu Shuntian 1-0 away from home with Li Xuepeng netting the only goal of the game after eight minutes.

The two-day tournament, on 18 and 19 May, will mark the beginning of the first phase of the Jets’ pre-season training schedule.

A 10-man squad will make the trip for the six-a-side competition - with the club's reigning Player of the Year Mark Birighitti and club captain Ruben Zadkovich among those considered for the travelling party.

“This is a great opportunity for us as a Club to build the Newcastle Jets brand and promote the A-League in Singapore and throughout Asia in general.

“Taking part in an event like this is a great way to get our preparations for the next A-League season started.

“Any overseas trip gives the players involved the chance to build camaraderie and cohesion within the squad.

“I’m sure coming up against some quality international opposition will be an extremely beneficial experience for our players, especially for some of the younger ones.”

The tournament will be hosted by the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) on the hallowed Padang, set in the shadows of Singapore’s finest colonial buildings and incidentally within the perimeter of Singapore’s celebrated F1 circuit.

Other teams in the tournament include Chonburi FC (Thailand), Singapore U23's, Hong Kong FC (China) and Geylang International (Singapore).

Click here to find out more about the Soccer Sixes tournament in Singapore.

The Ghana striker opened the scoring after 37 minutes before adding the second 11 minutes and completing his triple with 15 minutes remaining.

While Al-Ain's lead already appears impregnable, defeat left the visitor still fifth from bottom.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa is currently president of the Bahrain Football Association, a position he has held for 11 years, as well as chairman of the AFC's disciplinary committee and deputy chairman of FIFA's disciplinary committee.

Sheikh Salman's bid for election comes after former president Mohamed bin Hammam was banned for life by FIFA after allegations of bribery and corruption.

But Sheikh Salman, who is a member of the ruling Al-Khalifa family on the Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain, is under scrutiny of his own.

In 2011, after anti-government demonstrations during which many protesters were killed, it has been claimed a number of players and officials who took part, or assisted demonstrators, were arrested and detained, some even tortured, for their part in the uprising.

Two years earlier, when Sheikh Salman took on Hammam for the AFC seat of the FIFA Executive Committee - a role he is again also aiming for - claims were made of vote buying.

As part of his manifesto, Sheikh Salman states 'the principles that will underpin my candidacy and my term in office ate transparency, openness, fairness and honesty'.

But during a press conference in the capital Manama, when asked by Press Association Sport to respond to the allegations, whether they would damage his campaign, or whether his rivals would use them against him, the moderator prevented Sheikh Salman from answering.

The moderator said: "As mentioned they are allegations. They are not factual things for us to be taking into consideration, or even to talk about them.

"If I'm not mistaken, when you said the word allegations, they are allegations. Now whether that affects or not ...

"I think it was, I would call it, a cheap shot to ruin our press conference, and at the same to ruin His Excellency's candidacy."

However, the same questions were put to Sheikh Salman in one-on-one interviews conducted with other media outlets earlier in the day.

His response, however, was simply that football and politics should be kept apart, adding that he did not want to discuss such topics as 'it opens the door'.

The election is due to take place at the AFC's extraordinary congress in Kuala Lumpur on 2 May, with Sheikh Salman up against Yousuf al Serkal of the UAE, Worawi Makdudi from Thailand and Saudi Arabia's Hafez Al Medlej.

Australia is engaged in a cut-throat bid to reach the FIFA World Cup and in June it faces group leader Japan in Saitama before entertaining Jordan and Iraq at home.

With only two teams qualifying directly to the finals in Brazil, Osieck's team is sitting third in five-team Group B behind Japan and Jordan.

Osieck said there was no need for fans to panic but he has urged his players to display the grit and temperament that are synonymous with the 'Aussie battler'.

"Australians always lift when they have their backs to the wall and I really hope that the Socceroos players will respond to their qualifying situation with a fighting performance against Japan," Osieck said.

"I have come to realise that the Socceroos are at their best when the going gets tough and this gives me hope because this is also when the tough get going.

"In a way Aussies are like we Germans, who like nothing more than beating the odds."

Osieck spoke at length to The World Game about the three matches in June that will shape the destiny of Australia's national team.

Were you shocked at how close Australia came to losing at home to Oman?

I was well prepared for the Oman game and we knew them very well and had a good idea of what to expect.

But unfortunately some unpredictable stuff happened. We conceded an early goal and an unfortunate own goal early in the second half.

There also were indications that some players who had never played at that level felt the pressure of the occasion.

Some players were a bit too tight because everybody wanted us to win and that created a mindset that deprived them from playing to their potential.

Luckily we bounced back after an intense team talk at halftime and found our rhythm.

I would not call the 2-2 draw a shock, more like a setback. I would have been shocked if we did not respond, but we did.

You were very agitated during the match. Is this a sign that the pressure is rising?

Normally I am a bit more composed during a game when it runs according to expectation.

But I tried to have an impact on the team from outside and try to lift my team that way. I also was annoyed with the time-wasting antics of the Omani team.

They were out to disrupt our rhythm from the start with their gamesmanship, which in my book is not right.

I do not understand that. You always try to gain maximum advantage over your opponent but there is also a code of conduct.

Many fans are deeply concerned about the group situation. Is this because they realise we are not in the comfort zone anymore?

I don't think we should panic. I said from the very beginning that our qualifying campaign probably might have to go down to our last game versus Iraq.

We have had a difficult road and the set-up was different to the last campaign because we played many games away in the first half of qualification while Japan had more games at home and got enough points early to be able to cruise while we were forced to trail.

Let's face it, the Socceroos are in a spot of bother. How are they getting out of the hole they have dug themselves in?

First of all we are still in a position where we can still determine our own fate.

If we had been in a situation where we depended on other results to get through, that would be scary.

So we can still work actively towards qualification.

I am convinced we will make it. If I were not convinced I would be the wrong person to lead the team and I would not be here.

Is the Australian team becoming too dependent on Tim Cahill?

I would not say so. The fact is that when you introduce some new faces you could see that players like Cahill are leading the group in terms of their experience.

Cahill is in a good mindset at the moment and I am confident he will continue to do a good job for us.

Are you 100 per cent convinced about how best to use Cahill?

I have no doubt that Cahill, as we saw in the second half against Oman, is best at the top of our attack.

However Cahill said after the Oman game that he was not getting any joy by playing up front and he had to drop back to create more space for himself.

But how could he create space for himself when he dropped off and created a vacuum up front?

I don't agree with that. We don't need him in midfield. We have enough players in that area and besides, who is going to play up front? I think Cahill is most dangerous when he plays up front.

The A-League will be over soon which will deprive your domestic-based players of competitive games.

Percentage wise we always have more overseas-based players, anyway. My plan is to pick a dozen or so A-League players and have regular camps in the period of time between the end of the season and the June qualifiers.

We are working on the logistics of having trial matches against State teams which hopefully will give us the competitive edge.

Some players have shown that they are not quite ready for international football. Did you pick them to appease those who say you have not given new players a chance?

I never pick players because I have to please anybody. I pick players because I see prospects.

My job is twofold: one is delivering results that would enable Australia to qualify for Brazil and the other is to develop players.

I cannot drop some new players after they have a below-par game because as a coach you have to show patience otherwise you lose them.

That would not be the right approach.

Are the two demands of your job working against each other?

It could be the case, yes, so it is crucial that when you use new players you win games. A good example was the friendly match we played against Korea Republic in Hwaseong last year when we had several new faces, we did well and won 2-1

Are expectations on the Socceroos too high?

I'm not too sure what the people are saying because I am ill-informed about what's going on. I am not into the social media and all that stuff.

Do you feel that the media has treated you well so far?

Again, I do not really know. The media has a job to be critical and report on what it thinks is necessary.

You can win a game by a good margin and still get criticised and if you lose it is normal that you receive criticism. It is simply part of the game.

Japan needs a point to qualify and a point would do very nicely for Australia. Can we expect a safety-first match in Saitama?

Apart from the points situation one aspect of the match will be the rivalry between Japan and Australia.

Even if it were a friendly it would have been a very tough game. It's all about not giving an inch to the other team and I expect them to have the same attitude.

They are a difficult side and I hope that we will be the stronger team on the day.

Australia outplayed Japan before Mark Milligan got sent off in the last qualifier in Brisbane. Does this give you courage for the game in June?

All you need to do is look back at the Asian Cup final in Doha in 2011. Who was the better team?

We lost 1-0 because we made a mistake three minutes from time and we did not finish off a couple of opportunities we had earlier.

We were stronger in that final and that is what I want us to be in Saitama.

I want us to play football. Sometimes it is a bit tough because of the opposition's set-up but you should never lose your fire and direction.

Australia has not been playing too well lately. Do you expect a strong reaction in Japan?

Of course, and it will have to be a team effort. All players who will be on the park that night will have to deliver.

Your contract expires as soon as Australia's involvement in the World Cup comes to an end. Would you be interested in staying on for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup?

We have not discussed anything. All I can say is that I like it here in Australia. But I have not even thought about the Asian Cup to be honest. I've put all my energy into our bid to reach Brazil.

How do you see the A-League grand final between Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers?

It should be an open game between two similarly well-structured teams that have great tactical discipline.

They both have good shape and it is difficult to split them.

The Mariners dominated the first half of the season but their game suffered a bit when Tom Rogic left.

On the other hand the Wanderers came good in the second part and played some excellent stuff.

Both coaches have done a great job with a good group of players.

So what's your tip?

The winner is very hard to predict. It could come down to a free kick or a referee's decision.

In a strange game where all the goals came in the second half, Al-Shabab won 5-1, opening the scoring through Jociel Ciel.

Edgar made it two and, although Al-Jazira hit back through Ali Mabkhout, Ciel, Hamdan Qassim and Issa Obaid put it to bed.

The second-versus-third battle went in favour of Al-Ahly Dubai which now sits one off the top after a stunning 4-1 win at Bani Yas.

Ismail Al Hammadi, Grafite, Adnan Husseun and Majed Hassan all found the net before Nawaf Mubarek's consolation.

Dubai SC drew 2-2 with Al-Dhafra, squandering a two-goal lead in the process.

Khalifa Abdulla's brace put it ahead, but a couple of goals from Makhete Diop levelled things up.

In the day's other game, two goals from Michel Laurent helped Al-Sha'ab turn around a 1-0 deficit against Ajman, which scored through Boris Kabi.

The top three were unchanged with world champion Spain at number one followed by Germany and Brazil's arch South American foe, Argentina.

Croatia owes its sharp climb largely to their recent 2-0 "derby" win over Serbia to sit above Portugal (+2), Colombia, England, Italy (-3), Holland (-1) and Ecuador (+1), who complete the top 10.

Brazil, on a diet of friendlies ahead of staging next year's World Cup, registered a brace of draws in March - 1-1 against Russia and 2-2 with Italy - before seeing off Bolivia 4-0.

The South American giant - five-time winner of football's biggest prize - dropped in the rankings because FIFA's list awards more points for qualifying matches than friendlies.

England dropped three places to seventh after the 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Montenegro, which came after an 8-0 victory against minnow San Marino.

Wales leapt an astonishing 22 places from 71st to 49th, with their 2-1 win in Scotland followed by a 2-1 defeat in Croatia.

Australia dropped seven spots to 46th as the third-ranked Asian team behind Japan (26) and Korea Republic (42).

Cote d'Ivoire is the highest-ranked African team, moving up a place to 12th.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, was arrested for allegedly supplying prostitutes to induce three Lebanese referees to fix an AFC Cup match on 3 April between Singapore-based club Tampines Rovers and India's East Bengal.

"There is evidence to suggest the involvement of international syndicates for the offences committed by the accused," a written submission from Singapore state prosecutors opposing bail read.

Despite prosecution objections, District Judge Kamala Ponnambalam granted the businessman bail, set at Sg$150,000 ($115,396).

Singapore has a long history of match fixing.

Syndicates from the wealthy Southeast Asian island have been blamed by European police for orchestrating an international network responsible for rigging hundreds of games worldwide.

The suspect, described by local media as a nightclub owner who drives an Aston Martin sports car, had his passport confiscated and is required to report regularly to Singapore's anti-corruption agency while on trial.

Investigators said referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb accepted the sexual favours but were abruptly pulled out before the match started.

The Lebanese are being held in suburban Changi Prison pending their bail hearing on Wednesday.

All four suspects are charged with corruption - three counts in the case of Ding - and are the first to be arrested since Singapore came under pressure in February to crack down on match-fixing.

The prosecution said Ding was a 'high flight risk' because he has homes in Singapore and Bangkok, where his Thai wife and their daughter live.

"The forfeiture of bail money in the event of an accused's abscondment is a calculated loss which the syndicate can easily recover through illegal soccer betting in merely a single game," the prosecution said.

"Past cases also suggest a strong potential for such syndicates to interfere with the judicial process by getting witnesses to turn on the stand, or even to abscond altogether."

If convicted, Ding and the Lebanese face a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to Sg$100,000 ($76,931) or both, for each count of corruption.

The UAE football association chief, who is standing in the Asian Football Confederation leadership election next month, released his election manifesto on Monday.

He says greater openness and transparency is vital for the regional body.

"We are at a time when our stakeholders believe that leaders in the game are only in it for themselves - this must change," Al Serkal said.

"I want to see an AFC where football is the first and only topic on our agenda and that is why my campaign slogan is 'Football at Heart'."

Asia's football body will elect a new leader at a congress in Kuala Lumpur early next month, after former president Mohamed bin Hammam was accused of bribery in 2011 and finally stepped down from the post last year.

Caretaker leader Zhang Jilong of China is set to step aside, with Al Serkal vying with Hammam ally Worawi Makudi of Thailand, Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Saudi candidate Hafez Ibrahim Al Medlej.

A top priority for Al Serkal is to "reunite Asian football" and he is also pledging to try to improve governance, balance professional and amateur football and distribute revenues more evenly.

He also plans to decentralise AFC activities from its current base, AFC House in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, and "embrace the diversity of Asia" at the headquarters.

Al Serkal said he would introduce a "whistleblower" program to try to root out the corruption which has plagued Asian football at many levels, and would declare all his personal allowances and benefits.

"If I am successful, I will lead the way to make the AFC much more transparent with improved governance in order that we regain the integrity of the game in Asia," he said.

"It is important that I lead by example, and so I will publicly declare all allowances and benefits given to me by the confederation, and expenditure incurred by my office.

"I will also introduce a 'whistleblower' program to allow players and officials to report in absolute confidence any irregularities - whether in match-fixing or any issue relating to football."

The election, at the AFC congress in Kuala Lumpur on 2-3 May 2 is likely to be a hard-fought affair and risks widening factional splits in the diverse, 46-member body, the world's biggest football grouping.

Cleaning up corruption, including match-fixing, is also a huge task with operations from illegal gambling estimated in the billions of dollars and straddling dozens of countries and jurisdictions worldwide.

Bin Hammam remains under investigation for alleged financial wrongdoing during his time in office.

He denies the accusations, as well as claims of bribery during his campaign to become president of world body FIFA in 2011.

Eric Ding Si Yang, 31, was charged with three counts of corruption, a spokesman for the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) told AFP. He gave no further details.

If convicted, Ding faces a maximum prison term of five years or a fine of up to Sg$100,000 ($77,641), or both penalties, for each charge.

Referee Ali Sabbagh and his fellow Lebanese assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were charged earlier and remain in custody while their application for bail is being processed.

They were about to officiate in Singapore-based Tampines Rovers' AFC Cup fixture with India's East Bengal when they were abruptly dropped and questioned by the CPIB.

The CPIB revealed in a statement on Thursday that it had acted on 'prior information of match-fixing' involving the three referees.

"Subsequent investigations revealed that the trio corruptly received gratification ... in the form of free sexual service from three females," the CPIB statement read.

Singapore's Sunday Times said Ding spends most of his time in Bangkok but has stakes in a restaurant and nightclub in Singapore.

He is known to have a passion for fast cars and drives an Aston Martin Vantage, the newspaper claimed.

Ding was a football tipster with local tabloid The New Paper from 2006 to 2012, it added.

Singapore has a long record of match-fixing scandals. Syndicates from the wealthy Southeast Asian island have been blamed by Europol for orchestrating an international network responsible for rigging hundreds of games worldwide.

In February, Singapore came under pressure to act against the cartels, whose activities fuel illegal gambling estimated to be worth billions of dollars, when the head of Interpol called for the arrest of an alleged ringleader.

Singapore later said the suspect, Dan Tan, was assisting investigations, but he has not been arrested or charged with any crime.

The CPIB has not mentioned any links between the recent arrests and the match-fixing syndicates.

Kewell, 34, signed a short-term deal until the end of the season, Al-Gharafa confirmed on its website.

The campaign will only run into May for Al-Gharafa if it reaches the AFC Champions League knockout stage.

Kewell was in contention to make his debut in Sunday's (AEDT) Qatar Stars League match against Al-Sadd.

Al-Gharafa is home to Kewell's former Australia teammate Mark Bresciano and former Liverpool teammate Djibril Cisse of France.

Kewell is believed to have been signed as an injury replacement for Bresciano who is out for up to eight weeks after injuring himself in Australia's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Oman in Sydney last month.

Kewell has not played a competitive game since he turned up for his last club Melbourne Victory in March 2012.

Al-Gharafa kept its Champions League qualification hopes on track with a 4-2 win over Dubai side Al Nasr in Group C in midweek.

Referee Ali Sabbagh, and assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb, were charged before a district court for 'corruptly' receiving sexual gratification 'as an inducement' to fix the match they were to officiate on Wednesday, court documents showed.

The charge sheets said the three committed an offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The three had been due to officiate in Tampines Rovers' AFC Cup fixture with East Bengal when they were abruptly dropped and questioned by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

Replacement officials were brought in for the game, which was won 4-2 by the Indian team.

A CPIB statement on Thursday claimed it had acted on 'prior information of match fixing' involving the three referees.

"Subsequent investigations revealed that the trio corruptly received gratification... in the form of free sexual service from three females," the CPIB statement read.

"Singapore has always adopted a zero tolerance approach towards corruption, and match fixing of any form is not condoned in Singapore."

The CPIB added that it 'investigates into match-fixing through bribery cases and will not hesitate to take action against any parties involved if they had given or received bribes to fix a match'.

Singapore has a long record of match-fixing scandals and criminals from the tiny but wealthy Southeast Asian country have been blamed by Europol for orchestrating an international network responsible for rigging hundreds of games worldwide.

In February, Singapore came under pressure to act against the cartels, whose activities fuel illegal gambling estimated to be worth billions of dollars, when the head of Interpol called for the arrest of an alleged ringleader.

Singapore police later said the suspect, Tan Seet Eng or Dan Tan, was assisting investigations, but he was not arrested or charged with any crime.

The three 'are currently assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in their investigations', the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) revealed in a statement, warning of 'zero tolerance' for match-fixing.

Referee Ali Sabbagh and assistants Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb had been due to officiate in Tampines Rovers' fixture with East Bengal. Replacement officials were brought in for the game, which was won 4-2 by the Indian team.

"The match officials in question ... were brought to CPIB earlier this morning," FAS claimed, referring to Singapore's anti-corruption agency.

"Singapore and FAS have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to match-fixing and football corruption which includes the imposition of permanent suspension from all football activities on any player or official convicted in a court of law for football corruption offences."

Singapore has a long record of match-fixing scandals and criminals from the tiny but wealthy South-East Asian country have been blamed by Europol for orchestrating an international network responsible for rigging hundreds of games worldwide.

In February, Singapore came under pressure to act against the cartels, whose activities fuel illegal gambling estimated to be worth billions of dollars, when the head of Interpol called for the arrest of an alleged ringleader.

Singapore police later said the suspect, Tan Seet Eng or Dan Tan, was assisting investigations, but he was not arrested or charged with any crime.

Goals in either half from Ahmed Khalil and Al Hammadi helped Al-Ahly take advantage of Bani Yas' defeat the previous night to move into second, 10 points behind leader Al Ain.

The one consolation for Al Sha'ab after the defeat is that relegation rival Dibba Al Fujairah also lost, going down 1-0 at Al Wahda with Mahmoud Khamis' 24th-minute goal deciding the contest.

Those results leave Al Sha'ab and second-bottom Dibba level on 11 points.

The team immediately above those sides, Dubai SC, also lost after going down 2-1 at Ajman but its situation is not so dire as it still lies eight points above the bottom three.

Ajman took a 2-0 lead through Founeke Sy (19 minutes) and Boris Kabi (70) and Dubai could only pull one goal back through Marcio Magrao (75) as it suffered a fifth successive defeat.

First-half goals from Youssef M'Sakni and Tae-hee Nam put Lekhwiya in charge and it wrapped up the victory thanks to a second-half brace from Sebastian Soria, who struck either side of a consolation goal from Al Arabi striker Dorde Rakic.

The victory helps the reigning champion keep the heat up on Al Sadd, which has three games left compared to two for its nearest challenger.

The top two meet in the final game of the season.

In the day's other match, fourth-placed Al Rayyan's poor recent form continued as it lost 2-0 at home to relegation-battling Al Wakra, the goals coming from Ahmad Koheyl (27 minutes) and Patrizio Frau (48).

Arsenal will meet Nagoya on July 22 at Toyota Stadium as part of the club's pre-season Asian tour. It will be the first time an Arsenal first team has played a match in Japan since May 1968, when the club played four matches during an end of season tour to the country.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who guided Nagoya for an 18-month period between 1995 and 1996, before becoming Arsenal manager, said "Japan and, of course, Nagoya are very special to me. I have many good memories from my time working in Japan."

The tour will be Arsenal's third successive pre-season trip to Asia after visits to China in 2011 and 2012.

In what was the third game of the season for both, Xizhe Zhang put Beijing ahead on the stroke of half-time but Elkeson levelled just after the hour.

The clash between Jiangsu Shuntian and Shanghai Shenxin also ended all-square, with Hamdi Salihi`s last-minute goal earning Jiangsu a 2-2 draw.

He had cancelled out Liu Junnan`s 50th-minute opener and then watched on as Kieza put the visitor ahead from the spot, before getting a point late on.

The day's other game also featured a late goal, but in the case of Novak Martinovic`s strike, it was a consolation for Wuhan Zall as it lost 2-1 at Guizhou Renhe.

Zvejzdan Misimovic and Rafa Jorda scored the goals for the home side.

Chipperfield – a two-time World Cup finalist and one of the mainstays of Australian football’s golden generation – is beginning to question his long-held conviction that the Socceroos will quality automatically for Brazil with a top-two group finish.

But even if they do, the left-back, who accumulated 68 caps before bowing out after the 2010 World Cup, views Latin America as a potential graveyard for Holger Osieck’s men in match-ups against football’s higher powers.

Back in his adopted home of Switzerland, playing and learning the coaching trade with amateur outfit FC Aesch in the fifth tier of Swiss football, Chipperfield, 37, saw cause for concern not just in the statistics of Australia's battling 2-2 draw with Oman in Sydney on Tuesday night – but also in manner of its performance.

And with a trip to Japan to come in June, followed by home games against Jordan and Iraq later that month, he warned: “What I saw against Oman, particularly in the first half, wasn't good to watch.

“There were passes going into the grandstand and some not finding their targets over 10 metres and all we seemed to offer were long balls and crosses to Tim Cahill, who dug us out of trouble in the end (with the aid of Brett Holman).

“We lacked creativity through the midfield and I was surprised to see two holding midfielders (Mile Jedinak and James Holland) when you had somebody like Bresh (Mark Bresciano) on the bench, who is the one player we have with the vision and touch to pick a pass and really hurt teams. He can produce that killer ball, which is what we are lacking.

“We also had two new centre-backs (Robbie Cornthwaite and Michael Thwaite) and we missed the experience of Lucas Neill there.

“And we are lacking a natural left-back – Matt McKay is a good player but that’s not his position. I thought David Carney might have been the answer but he doesn’t have a club, so that’s an issue.

“We did show our fighting spirit to come back from two goals down, but even then we relied heavily on Timmy and a succession of corners. You won’t get those dead ball situations against the better teams at the World Cup. You need to play football – and we didn’t see enough of that.”

Japan’s loss to Jordan has seen the Middle Eastern nation leap-frog Australia into second spot in Group B – having played a game more – and now the Socceroos need to avoid losing in Saitama on June 4 to avert further collateral damage to its campaign.

“Suddenly the pressure is on. That was bad result for us and I really think we need to take something from our trip to Japan now,” Chipperfield said.

“They will do us no favours because they still need a point to be sure of qualifying themselves after the slip up in Jordan.

“If we lose that one, then we really are in big trouble. I thought with three games left we’d have a lot more than six points and only one win to our credit.

“I am concerned because I have been saying all along that we have the quality and depth and that we will get to the World Cup. I stick by that.

“But it’s about time now for the team to start performing and showing that they are good enough.”

Chipperfield, who is on the first rung of the coaching ladder as he studies for his EUFA badges and a possible future career calling the shots from the sidelines, also wants to see Tommy Oar – impressive off the bench against Oman – and fellow youngster Tom Rogic promoted to starting positions.

And he is hankering for the return of long-time absentee Josh Kennedy, who has declared his intention to be ready for the Japan game.

“I think all three would make a difference. I have liked what I’ve seen from Oar and Rogic for a while now and they deserve more game time,” he said.

“Some of the younger players have maybe shown they are not quite good enough yet, but these two have something about them.

“And it would be good to get Josh back because he has a good scoring record against Asian opposition and he scares them. He’s been excellent in his time in the J-League and I feel we have missed him.”

The result means the Junior All Whites, which has a bye in the final round on Friday, finishes its Oceania qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent record.

Going into the match at Churchill Park on Wednesday, Fiji was the only side that could have denied New Zealand a place in Turkey.

It held the Junior All Whites scoreless until the 48th minute, when Ryan Thomas was brought down and Louis Fenton converted the penalty.

Fiji's hopes were dealt a big blow by Napolioni Qasevakatini's sending off in the 58th minute for his second yellow card in three minutes.

With its numerical advantage, New Zealand virtually settled the contest with two quick goals.

Cameron Howieson saw his free kick go in after keeper Senirusi Bokini misjudged the flight of the ball, before Hamish Watson found the net from inside the box.

With seven minutes of normal time left, Thomas got the fourth goal with a curling shot.

Thomas, who put in a fine performance, came close with another effort shortly after, hitting the side netting.

The Under-20 World Cup begins on June 21 and New Zealand's three group opponents will be Uzbekistan, Uruguay and Croatia.

Association president Kuniya Daini told reporters that goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and midfielder Yasuhito Endo had the lights - which can cause eye damage - directed at them.

"We will make a complaint," Kuniya told Kyodo News after the match at King Abdullah International Stadium in Amman, Jordan's capital.

Japan's shock loss scuppered its hopes of early qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

A headed goal on the stroke of half-time and a breakaway effort on the hour-mark had put the host 2-0 ahead but Japan got one back through Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa, and then earned a penalty just a minute later.

However, Amer Sabbah flung himself at Endo's well-taken spot-kick to earn Jordan the points that takes it from bottom to second in Group B - and denies Japan the draw that would have made it the first country to qualify for the World Cup.

Endo insisted the lasers had not distracted him, but said players had been coping with them throughout the game.

"We had the laser beams from the first half, but I didn't care. I knew I had the beam when I tried to hit a penalty shot. It didn't affect my play," said Endo.

Daini said Japan would also be complaining about throat-cutting gestures made by two of Jordan's players that appeared to be aimed at coach Alberto Zaccheroni at half-time and at the end of the game.

"One Jordan player was provocative throughout the game and I just tried to ask the reason why," the Italian coach said calmly after the game.

"Of course, we wanted to get the ticket to the World Cup. We wanted to make it today. I was very disappointed with the result. We must improve the accuracy of the final shots," he added.

Japan still leads Group B on 13 points, followed by Jordan on seven points, Australia and Oman on six points, and Iraq on five points.

The Blue Samurai, aiming for a fifth straight berth to the World Cup finals, next plays Australia at home on June 4.

The Indian Express quoted local municipality chief PK Sur attributing the influx of snakes onto the field to the onset of summer heat in the area.

The venue is unlikely to be banned by the All India Football Federation, with its chief executive Sunanda Dhar saying it has 'instructed the authorities to take proper measures' to ensure the snakes were kept clear of the stadium.

No players, or ball boys, were bitten as Bagan won 3-2.

In appalling, rain-soaked conditions in the south-central city of Changsha, substitute forward Yu Dabao struck from close range in the third minute of added time to earn the host its first points in Group C.

The result boosts Chinese hopes of reaching an 11th consecutive Asian Cup in Australia in 2015, and also ends a run of six games without a win for Camacho's team.

The former Real Madrid and Spain boss came into the match with domestic media claiming only victory at Helong Stadium would be enough to save his job, after a miserable run of results.

But the manner of the victory, against a side that played with 10 men throughout the second half, was unconvincing. It follows a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in its Group C opener last month.

That result provoked a vicious backlash from the Chinese media, who had already questioned the credentials of Camacho after his side had also crashed out of World Cup qualifying and lost a series of friendlies.

The 57-year-old Spaniard, who was reported to have signed an $8 million-a-year contract in 2011, looked agitated as he waved orders from the pitchside and watched spurn a series of chances in the pouring rain.

The home side was unlucky not to go ahead in the 17th minute when Sun Ke's looping cross was met with a powerful header by Yang Xu, who could only watch as Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri reacted quickly to deflect wide.

Iraq defender Ali Adnan was given his marching orders just before half-time when he received a second yellow card for moving forward from the wall as Sun Xiang took a free-kick.

But China failed to take advantage of the numerical superiority until deep into stoppage time, when it won a corner that was met by a weak header from Zhang Linpeng, before Yu pounced for the vital winner.

Defeat was a cruel blow for Iraq manager Vladimir Petrovic in his first game in charge. The Serb formerly coached China but was sacked after he failed to steer the team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Other 2015 AFC Asian Cup results:
Hong Kong 1-0 Vietnam
Malaysia 2-1 Yemen
UAE 2-1 Uzbekistan
Lebanon 5-2 Thailand
Bahrain 1-0 Qatar

World football's governing body made the decision at a meeting in Switzerland, according to Iraqi Football Association vice president Abdulkhaleq Massud, who added that Iraq's national team will play a friendly against Syria on Tuesday in the northern city of Arbil.

"We received a preliminary notification from (FIFA) ... stating that FIFA permits the partial removal of the ban" thereby allowing international friendlies, Massud told AFP.

"We hope in the future that there will be a complete removal of the ban on all other formal football matches," he said.

FIFA banned Iraq from holding any international fixtures after a September 2, 2011 World Cup qualifier against Jordan because of the poor administration and organisation surrounding it.

In particular, the match was delayed for 10 minutes because of a power cut, and the stadium appeared to have significantly more spectators than its capacity of 12,400.

Baghdad has also not held any internationally-sanctioned football friendlies since the 2003 invasion, though in 2009, the Iraqi national team faced off against a squad representing the Palestinian Territories.

Iraq's national team currently plays its home friendlies in Qatar, but began training in Baghdad for the first time since the invasion this month.

Despite being a popular sport, lack of government support and infrastructure has held back the game's progress in the country, where cricket is the number one passion.

Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said Qatar has promised to help lift the sport after a high-level Qatari delegation met with local authorities.

The support includes youth development, training of coaches and development of women's football, it added.

Pakistan is planning to launch a football league along the lines of the cash-rich Indian Premier League for Twenty20 cricket, pending the signing of a sponsorship deal.

The country is 171st in the FIFA world rankings.

The rival bodies agreed to merge during an extraordinary congress in Jakarta attended by a FIFA representative on Sunday, Kompas newspaper reported.

The power struggle between the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and the Indonesian Football Rescue Committee (KPSI), which originated in 2011 after several executive committee members were sacked by the PSSI, gave rise to two conflicting top leagues.

"We have agreed to unite and be on the same boat for sake of Indonesian football," PSSI chairman Djohan Arifin Husin was quoted as saying by Kompas.

In 2012, regional branches of the PSSI and club owners challenged Husin's leadership and formed a breakaway association, the KPSI, with a tournament called the Super League.

Top players from the league run by rival KPSI were banned from playing for the national team, under PSSI control, resulting in poor performance in international competitions.

FIFA warned Indonesia would be banned from international competitions indefinitely if it failed to end the dispute.

A report claimed that a tournament for 24 clubs named the 'Dream Football League' and backed by the Qatari royal family would be established from 2015.

A statement from the Qatar Football Association however read: "With regard to the story published in today's edition of The Times newspaper concerning a 'Dream Football League,' the Qatar Football Association and other Qatari football entities can categorically confirm that we have no involvement in any such initiative and has heard nothing to suggest such a concept is genuine."

FIFA and UEFA would have to sanction any such competition, and the governing bodies plus sources at the European Clubs' Association said they had not heard of the plan.

A UEFA statement read: "UEFA is not aware of any such alleged plans. We therefore have no comments to make."

The Mariners took an eighth-minute lead at the Kashiwa Soccer Stadium in Chiba when the unmarked Patrick Zwaanswijk met a corner with an unstoppable header, but Leandro Domingues slipped a first-time finish under goalkeeper Mat Ryan to equalise just 13 minutes later.

Domingues then set up Kenta Kano midway through the second half and volleyed in a late third to leave the Mariners, who missed their fifth straight penalty in the 90th minute, with a single point from two Group H matches, five fewer than their table-topping opponent.

The result leaves the 3 April game against China's Guizhou Renhe looking distinctly like a must-win encounter for Graham Arnold's men.

The Mariners created few chances despite looking comfortable for long spells and ended the match with fitness concerns over midfielder Anthony Caceres, who had to be replaced after turning his ankle.

Arnold praised his “kids” who again proved to themselves they can compete on the international stage.

“We had five 21-year-olds out there and the performance and the fight tonight was very good, it was more like I expect,” he said.

“It’s an experience for the younger boys and they’re only going to get better out of it.

“We finished the game with six or seven young boys. Sure, it hurts to lose away from home but against the top side we’re not embarrassed.”

Zwaanswijk's header briefly put the Mariners in the ascendancy but Kashiwa had a good shout for a penalty with Kenta Kano seemingly having his heels clipped as he bore down on goal before equalising through Domingues.

The Mariners only had themselves to blame as captain John Hutchinson gave away possession in midfield.

Hiroyuki Taniguchi gratefully accepted the gift and split the visiting defence with a low pass that Domingues, the J-League's player of the year in 2011, neatly tucked away.

Arnold showed his eagerness for all three points when he sent on Michael McGlinchey for the tiring Adriano Pellegrino for the last half hour but instead watched Kano flick Domingues's deep cross adroitly past Ryan with the outside of his boot.

Domingues then smacked in an 88th-minute volley to settle any nerves before McGlinchey joined the list of unlucky Mariners penalty takers when goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno blocked his driven spot kick.

"The only difference was their number ten, Domingues," Arnold said. "He’s total quality.

"His first finish was a great finish. We gave away two cheap goals, and in international football if you give away possession like that you get punished.

"(But) the third goal from them was absolutely world class."

Central Coast Mariners: 1. Mathew RYAN (Gk), 5. Zachary ANDERSON, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON (c), 8. Adriano PELLEGRINO (14. Michael MCGLINCHEY 59’), 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 13. Brent GRIFFITHS, 16. Trent SAINSBURY, 17. Anthony CACERES (18. Nick MONTOMGERY 74’), 19. Mitchell DUKE, 29. Nick FITZGERALD (9. Bernie IBINI 70’).

In the other group match Suwon Bluewings was held to a 0-0 draw by Guizhou Renhe.

Watch the Socceroos v Oman on SBS ONE & in HD on Tuesday 26 March from 8pm

Osieck will have to do without captain and central defender Lucas Neill, who is suspended after an accumulation of yellow cards, with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to skipper the side in his 105th appearance for Australia.

At the halfway stage of the qualifying campaign Japan leads Group B with 13 points.

Australia, Iraq and Oman are all on five points while Jordan has four.

"The Oman match is a final and in a final you have to look at only one outcome and that is to win,” Osieck said after he named a 23-member squad for the match.

"There are no ifs and buts.

"We have put a lot of effort into this match and we want to win it and we will win it.”

Osieck bristled at a suggestion that the vital match was not decisive in terms of qualification.

"The match is crucial and decisive," he stressed.

"We cannot afford to jeopardise anything.

"We have to go full speed and we have to win the game.

"I won't allow any discussion (on this subject). We have to be there and we have to win that game.

"This match will show down the road which direction we will take.

"I don't even want to think about the Japan game. My focus is on Oman.

"It's a bumpy road and we have to be well prepared to get through.”

Osieck said that he was likely to use Tim Cahill, who plays for New York Red Bulls, as an attacking midfielder against the Omanis.

Cahill, who has played as an out-and-out striker at club and national level, missed the last match against Romania in Malaga but he will be expected to resume his prolific scoring record in Oman games that started in Bangkok with a last-gasp equaliser in a group match at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

"Accidentally as I was flicking through the television channels I watched Cahill play for Red Bulls against San Jose," Osieck said.

"He played in a deeper position behind the striker not up front.

"Tim is a very important player to me and when you look back he scored a crucial goal against Iraq and he is always a threat to any defence.

"I can assure you that he is very determined to deliver and help the team.

"You know, Arab teams do not like balls in the air and Tim's jumping ability and timing of his runs. He really attacks the defence.

"The high ball is not my game but sometimes you are in situations when from a corner or an early cross you need somebody on the end to threaten the opposition.”

Osieck conceded that Cahill is a more dangerous player when he is facing goal as an attacking midfielder than when he has his back to goal as a lone striker.

Watch the Socceroos v Oman on SBS ONE & in HD on Tuesday 26 March from 8pm

New York Red Bulls star Cahill, who was a surprise omission from the team that lost 3-2 to Romania in an international match on 7 February, takes his place in an experienced 24-man squad that does not feature any players on debut.

Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Mathew Ryan is one of six A-League players to get a call-up, with Osieck preferring the prodigious 20 year-old talent and Adelaide United's Eugene Galekovic over the injured Adam Federici, Brad Jones and Mitch Langerak as understudies to Mark Schwarzer.

Australia captain Lucas Neill was not named, given he is suspended for the match while Matthew Spiranovic is injured.

Osieck will pick a replacement from Robert Cornthwaite, Dino Djulbic, Rhys Williams, Michael Thwaite, Jade North and Mark Milligan - a player the German coach often uses as cover for Mark Bresciano in central midfield.

"Luckily I had recently the opportunity to try a couple of things (at centre-back). For instance, our friendly in Korea I could see Robbie Cornthwaite and he did well," Osieck said.

"Then in East Asia qualifying ... some other boys made a really good impression. Unfortunately a player like Matt Smith is out with injury, but Dino Djulbic looked good, Michael Thwaite is a good option, Mark Milligan can play there too.

"It doesn’t look too bad."

Tom Rogic, who has impressed since joining Celtic in January, returns to the squad after excelling during the EAFF East Asian Games qualifying tournament in December.

Osieck has plenty of attacking options, with Alex Brosque, Robbie Kruse, Brett Holman Tommy Oar and Cahill providing plenty of pace up front.

Seasoned Australia campaigner Brett Emerton, who captained the Socceroos during the EAFF East Asian games qualifiers and was named 'player of the tournament', was overlooked by Osieck.

Australia is second in Group B on five points, with a game in hand over third and fourth-placed Iraq and Oman respectively, which are level on points with the Socceroos. Jordan is fifth in the group on four points.

"It’s still a very bumpy road ahead of us and we need to be well prepared to achieve our target," Osieck said.

"I consider it an advantage that we don’t have to travel anymore to the Middle East.

"But we shouldn’t take anything for granted and we need to be 100 per cent prepared to go through."

Socceroos squad:

Mark BRESCIANO (Al-Gharafa, Qatar); Alex BROSQUE (Al-Ain, UAE); Tim CAHILL (New York Red Bulls, USA); Robert CORNTHWAITE (Chunnam Dragons, Korea Republic); Dino DJULBIC (Al-Wahda, UAE); Eugene GALEKOVIC (Adelaide United); James HOLLAND (Austria Vienna, Austria); Brett HOLMAN (Aston Villa, England); Mile JEDINAK (Crystal Palace, England); Robbie KRUSE (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany); Ryan McGOWAN (Shandong Luneng, China); Matt McKAY (Changchun Yatai, China); Mark MILLIGAN (Melbourne Victory); Jade NORTH (Brisbane Roar); Tommy OAR (FC Utrecht, Netherlands); Tom ROGIC (Celtic, Scotland); Mathew RYAN (Central Coast Mariners); Mark SCHWARZER (Fulham, England); Archie THOMPSON (Melbourne Victory); Michael THWAITE (Perth Glory); Luke WILKSHIRE (Dinamo Moscow, Russia); Rhys WILLIAMS (Middlesbrough, England); Michael ZULLO (FC Utrecht, Netherlands).

It is thought to be the first senior men's football game involving a Japanese team in Nanjing, where invading troops launched a brutal massacre in 1937.

"The players have privately said 'We all know the significance of facing a Japanese team at home in Nanjing'," said the jiangsu.china.com website, the online mouthpiece of the local government.

Relations between the two countries are still heavily coloured by Japan's bloody wartime occupation, including the Nanjing Massacre in which 300,000 civilians and soldiers died, according to China.

Some foreign academics estimate a significantly lower death toll.

In the weeks running up to the game, Chinese media reported there were plans to move it from the 60,000-seater Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre to another location in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

One Chinese report said Japan had asked China to guarantee the safety of the visiting team and its supporters in the city.

Another said Chinese authorities had urged the Japanese fans to use only designated buses to travel to the stadium, and asked visiting Japanese media to stay at the team hotel.

Reports in Japan also say fans attending the match have been warned to keep a low profile.

Up to 13,000 police and security were estimated to have been in place last month when Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande hosted Urawa Red Diamonds.

Some media reported that the Jiangsu game would see even tighter security, but police in Nanjing would not comment on numbers when contacted by AFP.

Supporters have been told to expect strict searches coming into the area of the ground, with banners which have "nothing to do with football" among a range of items that will be confiscated by guards, according to one report.

Only a small number of Japanese fans are expected. About 100 tickets were sold via the club and a travel agent, although more may try to gain entry at the stadium.

On its website, the Japanese embassy in Beijing posted safety advice for fans travelling to China for Wednesday's clash between Beijing Guoan and Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

It pointed out that "anti-Japan demonstrations and other activities" happened in China last year amid a row over disputed islands, adding: "It is still necessary at present to be careful by refraining from speaking in Japanese in the streets or otherwise making yourself highly visible."

"Please be careful about what you say or do in China inside or outside the match venue, bearing in mind the recent situation," it said.

"When you cheer in the match, please cheer in a good manner without excessively jeering opposing players or supporters, or acting in a way that insults the opposing country."

Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka has been banned from taking part in any football activities for up to 90 days "to prevent interference with the establishment of the truth" during an ethics investigation, FIFA said.

The suspension relates to the investigation by FIFA prosecutor Michael J Garcia into the alleged misuse of Asian Football Confederation accounts.

Fernando's case has been sent to the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA ethics committee for a decision.

FIFA has not said if there are any specific allegations against Fernando - a member of FIFA's ruling executive since January 2011 - who was a close ally of bin Hammam, the former AFC head and disgraced FIFA presidential candidate.

Bin Hammam resigned from all football-related positions in December after being found guilty of repeated ethics violations while AFC president.

Fernando, who is a lawyer, accompanied bin Hammam on a trip to woo Caribbean voters ahead of the 2011 FIFA presidential poll in the most far-reaching scandal to hit world football's governing body.

FIFA has said evidence from whistleblowers pointed to bin Hammam handing out $39,000 bribes in cash to Caribbean officials during his campaign visit to Trinidad.

A year-long audit by the Malaysia-based AFC also revealed "infringements" regarding the "execution of certain contracts" and tampering with the organisation's bank accounts by bin Hammam while he was president.

Fernando is now barred from involvement in the March 20-21 FIFA executive committee meeting in Zurich, which will recommend the next series of anti-corruption reforms sparked by the bin Hammam scandal and bribery allegations surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding contest.

Brazilian attacking midfielder Elkeson made a fine debut after his close-season move from Botafogo with two goals in the second half, after both teams drew a blank in the opening 45 minutes.

Dario Conca put Guangzhou ahead in the 50th minute, Elkeson doubled the lead after 61 minutes, and Lin Gao added a third two minutes later.

Elkeson had his second of the day in the 72nd minute, and Luiz Muriqui put it 5-0 ahead two minutes from the end, with just enough time remaining for Zhu Jiawei to grab a consolation.

Beijing Guoan beat Shanghai SIPG 4-1, with goals from Zheng Lang, Joffre Guerron, Wang Xiaolong and an Wang Shenchao own goal. Wu Lei briefly cut Shanghai SIPG's deficit to 2-1 midway through the first half before the visitor was overwhelmed by its host.

Elsewhere on the opening day of the season, Jiangsu Shuntian edged Wuhan Zall 2-1. Siarhey Krivets and Ke Sun put Jiangsu Shuntian two goals clear with goals in the 55th and 66th minutes, with Li Wei pulling a goal back after 69 minutes.

Guizhou Renhe took the lead after 31 minutes in its home tussle with Qingdao Zhongneng, with Zvjezdan Misimovic netting, but Gustavo equalised after 65 minutes and Bruno Meneghel grabbed a last-minute winner for the away side.

Mohammed Jaber put the host ahead just after the half-hour mark, but Nawaf Mubarak's own goal seven minutes later ensured the seventh-spotted visitor left with a point.

The result kept Bani Yas eight points behind leader Al-Ain after 18 games.

Elsewhere, Grafite netted a hat-trick as Al-Ahly Dubai climbed to third with a 6-3 victory at Dubai SC.

Luis Jimenez started the rout in the 26th minute and Grafite bagged two goals in as many minutes just before half-time to all but secure the points.

Further goals after the interval from Jimenez and Ricardo Quaresma made it 5-0 to the away team and Grafite swiftly completed his treble just moments after Mohammed Ibrahim had pulled one back.

Yousuf Hassan and Richard Porta got on the scoresheet in the final seven minutes to make the scoreline a little more respectable for the host - but the result had long since been decided.

Ajman moved above Dubai SC and into 10th place thanks to a 3-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Al-Ittihad Kalba. Boris Kabi and Driss Fettouhi set the visitor on its way and Talal Abdulla's own goal on the stroke of half-time sealed matters.

Finally, Bruno Correa's equaliser 18 minutes from time earned sixth-placed Al-Nasr a 1-1 draw at third-bottom Al-Sha'ab, who had taken a 54th minute lead through Noel Kaseke.

Achille Emana had given the host the lead within three minutes but former Sunderland striker Gyan turned the game around with goals in the 66th and 79th minutes.

Al Jazira missed the chance to take second place back from Baniyas, which plays on Saturday (AEDT), after struggling to a 3-3 draw with Dibba Al Fujairah at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium.

Khali Al Ali saw his 10th-minute opener cancelled out within two minutes as Al-Jazira's Ricardo Oliveira found the back of the net, only for Dibba to edge ahead again through Ahmed Malullah with 25 minutes on the clock.

Matias Delgado levelled seven minutes before the break only for Al Ali to complete his brace in the 64th minute, but Abdulla Mousa was on hand to rescue a point four minutes later.

Elsewhere, Al-Dhafra climbed to eighth in the table as goals from Bandar Mohammed and Ali Al Hammadi settled a 2-0 win at Al-Shabab.

Yousef Al Serkal of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain and Hafez Al Medlej of Saudi Arabia have nominated for the vacant Asian Football Confederation presidency.

Long-time FIFA Executive Committee member Worawi Makudi of Thailand is the only other candidate ahead of the May 2 election, which will determine who leads the continental football body until 2015.

Having three West Asian candidates potentially splitting support gives Worawi, the only candidate from the eastern half of the confederation, a natural advantage.

FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein called Wednesday's meeting in Amman to give the West Asian candidates the opportunity to present their plans and programs to regional delegates. No decision was reached among the representatives of 10 football associations, but the concept of supporting a single candidate hasn't been ruled out.

"It was a unanimous decision to support all nominees and to create an opportunity for an open dialogue ... to agree on one candidate who will carry the AFC presidency for the development of this sport at all levels," Prince Ali said.

Representatives from Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Lebanon, Oman, Iraq and Bahrain attended the meeting.

Sheikh Talal Al Fahad Al Sabah of Kuwait was confident that at the next meeting everything will be clear.

"We have discussed several key issues including the nominees' programs and the requirements of each federation," he said.

After the meeting, Al Serkal said: "I am still a nominee and with any agreement in the next meeting."

China's Zhang Jilong, who has been acting president since Qatar's Mohamed bin Hammam was suspended by football's world governing body in May 2011, announced last weekend that he would not put himself forward to be president and has declined requests for further comment.

Arsenal executives are currently in Hanoi meeting officials from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to negotiate a fixture against the national team, VFF spokesman Nguyen Lan Trung told AFP on Wednesday.

"The VFF and Arsenal Club have agreed to organise a friendly match at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on July 17," he said, adding that no formal deal had yet been signed.

VFF said the match would be partly sponsored by Hoang Anh-Gia Lai - one of Vietnam's largest private conglomerates which owns an eponymous team in the domestic V-league and runs a football academy in the Central Highlands.

The exclusive academy is designed to prepare boys to play professionally in football-mad Vietnam, a communist country of about 80 million people, and perhaps elsewhere in Asia or even Europe.

It has a partnership with Arsenal, where some academy graduates could potentially end up on trials.

Arsenal sends a manager to monitor students' development once a year.

"Initial negotiations have gone very well," the club's chief commercial officer Tom Fox told Arsenal's official website, referring to the possible friendly match.

"We are all looking forward to bringing the team to this region again this year," he added.

Sheikh Salman represents the last hope that the game in the vast continent will clean up its act, it has been claimed.

Sheikh Salman, who is a member of the Bahrain royal family, is one of four candidates to contest the election at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on 2 May.

The other nominees for the AFC's top job are Thailand's Worawi Makudi, a long-time ally of disgraced former president Mohamed Bin Hammam, Hafez Ibrahim al-Medlej of Saudi Arabia and Yousuf al-Serkal of the United Arab Emirates.

Football Federation Australia, as a member of the 11-nation South-East Asian group within the AFC, has not publicly declared its intention but it will be expected to back Makudi.

Peter Velappan, who served as AFC general secretary for almost 30 years and oversaw Australia's entry to the confederation in 2006 before he fell out with Bin Hammam and retired in 2007, said Asia would make a huge mistake if it failed to give Sheikh Salman the chance of giving the game a new face.

Makudi, al-Medlej and al-Serkal are members of the AFC's executive committee.

”None of the AFC ex-co members are fit to hold the position of president," Velappan said from Kuala Lumpur.

”They are friends of Bin Hammam and they come with too much baggage.

”If any one of them is elected we will have the ghost of Bin Hammam running the show again.

”The only one of the four who would be good for the game in Asia is Sheikh Salman, who is not on the ex-co.

”If the AFC's member associations have the welfare of Asian football at heart they should have no other option but to vote for him.

”He would be a totally new face for Asian football and at the moment we need it badly.”

Velappan said Asian football had an image problem and the first thing the incoming president will have to tackle is the match-fixing allegations that continue to hinder the game's progress in this part of the world.

”Bin Hammam has left the game in a chaotic state and there are many things that need to be fixed, the most important being the match-fixing claims,” he said.

”Our image is in tatters but I believe Sheikh Salman would give our game the shot in the arm it needs.”

Sheikh Salman is president of the Bahrain Football Association.

The AFC presidency became available because Bin Hammam was suspended by FIFA and the AFC after being accused of trying to buy votes in a bid to topple the world governing body's president Sepp Blatter in 2012.

Bin Hammam, who comes from Qatar, resigned last December soon after a new probe into financial irregularities was launched against him but he has denied the allegations.

Caretaker AFC president Zhang Jilong of China announced last week he would not seek to be elected to the position.

Abdul Aziz Al ansari netted the game's only goal after 26 minutes to earn his side just its fourth victory of the season, which lifted it to ninth in the 12-team league.

Lekhwiya remained five points adrift of leader Al Sadd after 19 games.

Al Gharafa climbed to fifth spot thanks to a 2-1 triumph over fourth-placed Al Rayyan, early goals from Alex and Fahad Al-Shammari putting the host in the ascendancy before Ahmed Alaaeldin's late consolation.

Finally, Umm Salal moved up to seventh position after a 1-0 success away from home, Said Boutahar's 74th-minute strike sinking second-bottom Al Arabi.

The Syria international gave the visitor a 13th-minute advantage, and although Ahmed Al-Harbi replied for Al-Tawon after 69 minutes, Al Hussain struck again a minute later to give Najran the lead for good.

The win lifts Najran up to eighth in the table, eight points and four places better off than its opponent.

The former England captain will visit three times during the season from March to November to promote the sport in China and attract the global spotlight, the China Football Association said in a statement.

"Beckham will come to China to promote youth football and serve as ambassador to the Chinese Super League (CSL)," it said, touting the athlete's success in boosting the popularity of the sport worldwide.

"His arrival will bring international attention to Chinese football and, at the same time, his personal involvement will be a good way to make Chinese football more international."

State media, however, cast doubt on whether Beckham - with French club Paris Saint-Germain - could repair the image of a sport scarred by match-fixing and bribery scandals.

A three-year inquiry resulted last month in 33 people receiving life bans and the former club of Didier Drogba, Shanghai Shenhua, being stripped of its 2003 league title.

The arrival last year of the Cote d'Ivoire striker along with Nicolas Anelka, his former teammate at English Premier League side Chelsea, signalled to some observers that Chinese football had turned a corner.

But both players have since left Shenhua, with Drogba going to Turkish league leader Galatasaray in disputed circumstances and Anelka signing for Juventus on loan.

When news of Beckham's appointment began to circulate last month, the People's Daily online said the departure of two international stars had already hurt CSL's reputation and "even Beckham would not heal the damage".

"While spending loads of money hiring international stars like Beckham, the CSL should make efforts to improve the quality of its 'products'," it said.

"Without a truly favourable environment and high-calibre professional clubs, more foreign stars are likely to leave like Drogba and Anelka did."

Worawi Makudi of Thailand, Hafez Ibrahim al-Medlej of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Yousuf al-Serkal of the United Arab Emirates will all be vying for the top post.

Their main task will be to clean up Asian football's top governing body after its former president, Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar, stepped down amid allegations of corruption, which he has denied.

China's Zhang Jilong, who has been acting president since Bin Hammam was suspended by football's world governing body in May 2011, told China's official news agency on the weekend that he would not nominate to be president.

The election will be held May 2 in Kuala Lumpur.

Salman has also nominated for a position on FIFA's Executive Committee along with Hassan Al Thawadi of Qatar.

Fawaz Awana opened the scoring for Baniyas on the stroke of half-time but Mubarak was needed in the 88th minute after Bilal Mohammed levelled shortly after the hour mark.

Leaders Al Ain remain six points clear of the chasing pack, though, with Asamoah Gyan's penalty settling a 1-0 win over Al Jazira, which drops one place to third.

The former Sunderland striker could not find his 21st goal of the season from open play but he found it from the spot in the 78th minute.

Elsewhere, mid-table sides Ajman and Al Shabab played out a 2-2 draw decided by an exchange of braces.

Boris Kabi opened the scoring in the 11th minute before doubling Ajman's lead in the 63rd minute, leaving Edgar da Silva to grab a point-saving double with goals in the 73rd and 90th minutes.

Cleo found the net in the fifth and 63rd minutes before Masato Kudo killed the game off as a contest nine minutes later.

Calixto Renato got a late goal back for the visitor but the result was already decided.

Hiroshima, who won Japan's traditional curtain-raiser, the Super Cup, 1-0 against Kashiwa Reysol last week, gets down to league business on Saturday against Urawa Red Diamonds, led by former Sanfrecce coach Mihailo Petrovic.

"Because we won the opening game last season, we got off to a good start," said striker Hisato Sato on Friday.

The Japan international scored the Super Cup winner and was named 2012 player of the year after his 22 goals in 34 games.

"Although we won the (league) title, that was in 2012," he said.

"We haven't become very much stronger yet. We still have a lot of room to improve as a team and as individuals.

"We are not going to start the season as the defending champions. We will start as challengers again," added Sato, who was also the joint top scorer at the Club World Cup in December.

However, there are no out-and-out favourites this year - and recent experience shows why.

Kashiwa, who won in 2011 a year after being promoted, finished a disappointing sixth last year. Nagoya Grampus, champion in 2010, was runner-up in 2011 but dropped to seventh last year.

And Gamba Osaka, who won the AFC Champions League as recently as 2008, was relegated last season, again highlighting the difficulty of staying at the top of Japanese football.

Hiroshima, former Asian champion Urawa, Vegalta Sendai and Kashiwa are all among the favourites, but all also have the difficulty of competing in the AFC Champions League, which involves long away trips mid-week.

On Saturday, Hiroshima faces an Urawa team featuring three of its former players - Ryota Moriwaki, Tomoaki Makino and Yosuke Kashiwagi - who played under Petrovic, plus striker Shinzo Koroki, who arrives from Kashima Antlers.

"We are ready to show better football than we did last year by improving our accuracy. We are going to do what we've continued to work on," Petrovic said.

Kashiwa has obtained Brazilian striker Cleo from Guangzhou Evergrande, who returned to China this week to score the winner in his new club's 1-0 AFC Champions League victory over Guizhou Renhe.

Sendai coach Makoto Teguramori, who guided his side to second place, their best ever result, last year, said he plans to form a different style for the J-League and the Champions League.

"I'm going to vary our play widely," he said.

"We have an ideal style to fight in the J-League, but it's sometimes dangerous in the Champions League if we stick to it. We need to show our (different) style for the Champions League."

On Saturday, Sendai will play Ventforet Kofu, while Nagoya takes on Jubilo Iwata and Kashima faces Sagan Tosu. Kashiwa will meet Kawasaki Frontale at home on Sunday.

"He's not running. He has decided after long and careful thought," said the source close to Zhang. "He doesn't want the AFC to be split for the next two years."

The 61-year-old from China took the reins in June 2011 after former president Mohamed bin Hammam was banned from football activities over bribery accusations which he denies.

Zhang had previously been seen as the favourite to win the job full-time at elections in early May and had spoken of his wish to bring greater transparency to the regional body.

Thai football chief Worawi Makudi, a bin Hammam ally, has already thrown his hat into the ring, along with Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa. The election winner will be in charge until 2015.

"The member associations are split not in half, but in several parts," the source said.

"It's his (Zhang's) wish that the football family can get together, back to unity and solidarity."

Oleksandr Pyshur opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and Fozil Musaev sealed a surprise win for the visitor four minutes from time.

In the other Group G encounter, Korean Republic side Pohang Steelers, the most successful team in Asia, having won this competition on three occasions, was held to a goalless draw by Beijing Guoan.

Al Gharafa, with Tunisian Habib Sadek beginning his second spell as interim coach after the resignation at the weekend of Alain Perrin, opened its Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Al-Ahly.

Mustafa Al-Bassas opened the scoring in the 35th minute for the Saudi Arabian side, who reached last year's final, and Victor Simoes scored a last-minute clincher.

Sepahan enjoyed a routine 3-0 win over Al Nasr.

Albanian striker Xhevahir Sukaj headed the Iranian champion ahead in the 22nd minute and made the game safe in the 81st when he turned home Mohammad Reza Khalatbari's cross from point-blank range after a well-worked short corner.

Omid Ebrahimi rounded off the scoring three minutes from time, turning home a Khalatbari cut-back that had eluded Sukaj, seeking a hat-trick.

Al Rayyan of Qatar fought back from a goal down on three occasions to claim a 3-3 draw against Esteghlal in Group D.

Goals from Jlloyd Samuel and Arash Borhani and Javad Nekounam's penalty put the Iran side in front on three occasions, but they were cancelled out by Rodrigo Tabata's spot-kick, Musa Haroon and former Brazil international Nilmar.

UAE Pro League champion Al-Ain edged past 10-man Saudi outfit Al Hilal, with former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan coming off the bench to seal a 3-1 victory in the final minute.

Abdulla Al-Zouri put Al-Hilal ahead in the ninth minute but Omar Abdulrahman struck just before the half-hour and Alex Brosque scored just after half-time, with the visitor's hopes of claiming a point hit by Salem Al-Dosari's 55th-minute dismissal before Gyan compounded its woes late on.

There was just one goal in the two Group G fixtures, with Cordova Cleo's strike on half-time enough to give Japanaese side Kashiwa Reysol a 1-0 win at Chinese Super League outfit Guizhou Renhe.

Central Coast Mariners was held to a goalless draw by Korea Republic's Suwon Bluewings.

The general secretary of the West Asian Football Federation, Fadi Zreiqat, announced the suspensions on Tuesday in Beirut.

Lebanon's FA appointed Zreiqat to head an investigation into reports of illegal betting and match-fixing in games involving Lebanese clubs in Asian League matches.

The investigation determined the players took money from betting companies and intentionally lost games.

The two players suspended for life and fined $14,737 are Mahmoud al-Ali and Ramez Dayoub. Both have played for the national team.

Makudi says he's "extremely honoured to be proposed and nominated" by the 11-nation regional body representing South-East Asian football.

The group says Australia also backs the Thai official after attending Monday's meeting in Malaysia.

Makudi, a longtime bin Hammam ally, could face four rivals: interim AFC president Zhang Jilong of China, Bahrain's Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Yousef Al Serkal of the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia's Hafez El Medlej.

The 46-member Asian confederation elects a president on May 2 in Kuala Lumpur to complete bin Hammam's mandate through to 2015.

The Qatari official resigned in December during a FIFA investigation into his management of AFC finances.

FIFA said it acted after the disciplinary committee of China's Football Association (CFA) gave five-year bans to 25 people, having earlier this month handed life bans down to 33 people in the wake of China's biggest ever match-fixing scandal.

Those hit by the first wave of CFA bans included former heads of the Football Association Nan Yong and Xie Yalong, who were previously handed jail sentences for taking bribes, and Xu Hong, the newly installed head of east China club Dalian Aerbin.

FIFA said it accepted the findings of the Chinese investigation and would implement the bans across the world.

The sanctions come after a two-year Chinese judicial investigation into incidents of match-fixing in the 1990s and early 2000s.

FIFA said in a statement that the CFA had notified it of its findings and sanctions and also "emphasised its on-going commitment to stamping out all forms of match-fixing and corruption in the game".

Corruption in football has undermined the reputation of China's flagship Super League and several recent high-profile arrivals, including Didier Drogba, have since returned to Europe.

Ali Afif put the visitor ahead in the 58th minute before late strikes by Bakari Kone for the home side and Sebastian Soria for Lekhwiya mean it is now just a point off top spot.

El Jaish is third after it beat Al Arabi 1-0 thanks to Maher Yousef's strike after the half-hour mark.

Goals from Said Boutahar and Ismail Mahmoud put Umm Salal two goals up against Al Siliyya, who scored a late consolation through Marcelo Tavares.

Nawaf Mubarak scored a 38th-minute opener for the visitor, whose lead was doubled four minutes later by an own goal from Ali Rabee.

Hassan Matouk pulled one back for Al-Sha'ab before half-time but Yousef Jaber made sure of the points after 73 minutes.

The win leaves Bani Yas six points behind leader Al-Ain, but only separated from second spot on goal difference.

Al Wahda closed in on the top six with a 3-0 win at Dubai SC, with Ahmed Santo on target in the fifth minute before Papa Waigo added further goals in the 29th and 64th minutes.

Al-Wasl is one place behind Al Wahda after beating Ajman 4-2.

Emilian Alfaro scored a hat-trick for the home side with Brazilian forward Jussie also on the scoresheet.

Founeke Sy and Driss Fettouhi replied for Ajman.

Luiz Fernando's goal after 33 minutes gave the visitor its third win of the season, keeping it off the foot of the table on goal difference despite a victory for basement dweller Al-Ittihad Kalba.

Al-Jazira made the most of Al-Ain's defeat with a 4-1 rout of Al-Dhafra.

Ali Mabkhout finished off the visitor with a late brace, his goals either side of a consolation strike from Makethe Diop.

Al-Ittihad Kalba enjoyed its third win of the season as Mohammed Malullah's 86th-minute strike saw off Al-Nasr 2-1.

Ji Parana put Al-Ittihad Kalba in front two minutes before half-time, but Mullalah's late goal was needed after Giuseppe Mascara had levelled seven minutes into the second half.

Goals in either half from Jociel Ciel and Edgar da Silva gave Al-Shabab a 2-0 home win over Al-Ahly Dubai.

Slovenian citizen Admir Suljic, 31, was apprehended by police after arriving in Milan on a flight from Singapore as prosecutors in Cremona made another breakthrough in the 'Last Bet' investigation into an international match-fixing ring.

The Polizia di Stato confirmed on its official website that Suljic faces charges of criminal association and conspiracy to commit sporting fraud.

Having been issued with an arrest warrant in December 2011, police said Interpol had recently identified Suljic in Singapore, where he had allegedly been working for businessman Tan Seet Eng, also known as Dan Tan.

Seet Eng is also the subject of an arrest warrant and Italian police were unsure which man to expect when Singapore police informed them a wanted match-fixer was flying to Milan. Neither Suljic nor Tan could be extradited from Singapore as the arrest warrants were not applicable in the Asian country.

According to police, Suljic did not show any surprise when arrested at the airport and suggested he had come to Italy with the intention to cooperate with Guido Savini, the prosecutor of Cremona.

Savini's team has overseen an investigation into match-fixing that has seen over 50 people arrested, with over 150 under scrutiny.

The crime syndicate allegedly made millions through betting on a selection of fixed games across professional football in Italy through the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons.

Suljic's arrest coincided with an Interpol conference on match-fixing in Kuala Lumpur, and secretary Ronald Noble praised the cooperation between Italian and Singaporean authorities.

He told interpol.int: "This is exactly the type of result which can be achieved when police share information in real time and use Interpol's global network to locate, identify and arrest suspects.

"What we now need is for national laws to be modernised allowing the police to share information via Interpol channels while investigations are ongoing so they can act fast and more effectively.

"The arrest of this suspected match-fixer could not have been achieved without Italy and Singapore's close cooperation with Interpol, nor without a great deal of behind-the-scenes work by prosecutors and magistrates.

"Those who doubted Singapore's ability or commitment to fight match-fixing and bring those wanted for arrest to justice need to understand that Singapore acts when the evidence exists and is shared and when their laws permit. Singapore and Italy remain two of Interpol's most active and effective member countries."

Nawaf Al Sabhi's own goal 10 minutes before half-time set the visitor on its way, and Kemokho Cissokho sealed matters five minutes from time to extend Al-Fateh's advantage over nearest challengers Al Hilal and Al Shabab.

Elsewhere, Al-Ahly consolidated fifth spot with a 2-1 home triumph over second-bottom Al-Faysali.

Kamel Al-Mousa's last-gasp strike proving decisive after Bader Al Kharashi looked to have snatched a point for the away team by cancelling out Taisser Al-Jassam's first-half opener.

Finally, Al-Tawon and Al-Sho'ola battled out a 1-1 draw.

Al-Traiqi Abdul Aziz's 90th-minute penalty nicking a point for the host after Hassan Tair had put the visitor ahead 13 minutes before the break.

Ralf Mutschke said he hopes a Singaporean businessman accused of heading a crime syndicate that made millions by betting on rigged Italian games will be brought to face the courts with the help of Singapore's authorities.

Mutschke, speaking at a conference in Malaysia co-hosted by Interpol and the Asian Football Confederation to discuss match-fixing, said referees and players are being banned for life for corruption but the masterminds of the crimes still walk free because of legislative weaknesses.

"We have to bring in the governments because they have to change legislations and laws, because a lot of countries do not have proper laws fighting match manipulation and corruption," Mutschke said.

"Talking is nice, but we have to come to a conclusion that it's time now for action."

Mutschke pointed to the case of Singapore businessman Tan Seet Eng, for whom Italian authorities have issued an arrest warrant but have been unable to take into custody because it cannot be served on him while he is in Asia.

Tan "needs to be brought to justice ... but it's out of our jurisdiction," Mutschke said.

"The problem has to be solved on a political level."

Singapore's police said the city state's authorities are reviewing information submitted by the Italians before deciding what to do.

Tan's former associate, Wilson Raj Perumal, has alleged to Italian investigators that Tan places syndicate wagers on fixed games using Asia-based online betting sites via intermediaries in China.

The deal was signed by Djohar Arifin Husin of the FIFA-sanctioned All-Indonesia Football Association, or PSSI, and La Nyalla Mataliti of the breakaway Indonesian Soccer Rescue Committee after a meeting with Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo.

Under the truce, the groups will hold a meeting on 17 March, three days before a deadline set by the world governing body FIFA, the minister said.

"Hopefully, everything will goes well and the KPSI will merge into PSSI," Suryo said.

However, Halim Mahfudz, secretary general of PSSI, has questioned the initiative, arguing that FIFA has left the settlement of the dispute to the Asian Football Confederation.

"The step was different at all with what the AFC told to us," Mahfudz said, adding that he would leave later in the day for Kuala Lumpur to consult Asia's ruling body.

"I have to consult first with AFC regarding the letter from FIFA to the sports minister."

The rift between the football bodies began after the removal of Nurdin Halid as PSSI chairman in April 2011. A congress afterward ended in deadlock.

Arifin was elected in an extraordinary congress in July 2011, but some members objected and formed the KPSI.

Recalled to Australia’s starting line-up for the recent international against Romania, Zullo, 24, is hungry for regular first team football at club level as he bids to secure a starting role for the Socceroos before the FIFA 2014 World Cup.

But whether or not that will be at Utrecht – the club he joined from Brisbane Roar along with Tommy Oar and Adam Sarota in 2010 - remains “up in the air”, according to the player himself.

After making his 20th appearance of the season for sixth-placed Utrecht in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven, he declared: “My agent is due to meet with the club next week to discuss the situation and I would like to stay, if that is possible.

“Things are up in the air right now. The club has the right to activate the extension or not to – so it’s in their hands.

“It's a good club and I am settled there, especially with Tommy Oar and Adam Sarota as my team-mates.

“The reality is that I want to be playing games because that will give me my best chance of staying involved with the Socceroos.

“Obviously I have been in and out a bit at Utrecht (having overcome persistent groin problems over the past two seasons) and I now feel I’m possibly in the best shape I’ve been in and I am playing as well as ever.”

Whatever the outcome of Zullo’s summit with the club’s hierarchy, he has vowed to remain in Europe, rather than opt for Asia or even a return to the A-League.

“I hope Europe is where my future lies for the time being at least,” he said.

“Europe is the highest level possible and that’s where I need to be – I think it’s the best place for me to improve and continue to learn as a player.

“Of course, if something came up in Asia you would look at it but it’s definitely not in my thinking.”

Deployed as a left-sided utility by Utrecht, Zullo came off the bench after only seven minutes against PSV to fill in at left back after an ankle injury to his rival for that spot David Bulthuis – and he could now get an extended run in the team.

“I really need a few games under my belt to get my match rhythm going into our World Cup qualifier against Oman next month (26 March in Sydney),” he added.

“That’s an absolutely massive game and we know a win would bring qualification a little step closer. It’s a game we must win.

“I think I did okay against Romania after not starting for the national team for a while and I obviously want to build on that, given the chance.”

While fellow Socceroos team-mate Adam Sarota’s season has been wrecked by a serious knee ligament injury, the dynamic Oar returned from his recent hamstring injury with a 15-minute cameo off the bench against PSV to give a welcome boost to Australia coach Holger Osieck.

Oar had been penciled in for significant game time in the 3-2 loss to Romania after his recent impressive performances for his country and is certain to be recalled for the Oman game, assuming he is fit.

“Tommy looked good and will only get better with more game time,” added Zullo.

“He’d been out for six weeks, so it was great to see him back again.”

The country's top football body has also handed down substantial fines as it seeks to end the corruption scandals that have plagued the sport in China.

Those hit by the bans include the former heads of the Football Association, Nan Yong and Xie Yalong, who were previously handed jail sentences for taking bribes, and Xu Hong, the newly installed head of East China club Dalian Aerbin.

Two clubs involved in match-fixing in 2003, Tianjin Teda and Shanghai Shenhua, face fines of one million yuan ($156,000) and points deductions next season, the association said.

Shenhua was also stripped of its 2003 league title.

Other clubs were handed fines and point deductions for bribery and match throwing.

China has engaged in a long-running battle to clean up the corruption that has damaged the reputation of its flagship Super League, with a highly visible crackdown launched in 2009 leading to several jail sentences.

The league has struggled to retain high-profile foreign talent, with star strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka leaving Shenhua.

First-half goals from Ismail Ahmed and Ali Al-Wehaibi against Al-Dhafra ensured Al-Ain its 13th win in 15 games this season before Alex Brosque rounded off a 3-0 triumph.

Al-Jazira was similarly untroubled as it won 4-2 at Ajman. Ibrahim Diaky's early opener was cancelled out by Boris Kabi but Subait Khater's double made the game safe for the visitor. Ali Al Amri added a fourth before Kabi struck again late on for Ajman.

Hernandez, 30, was a highly influential midfielder in five seasons at Melbourne Victory and had stated he wanted to return to the A-League when a one-year contract at Indian I-League club Prayag United ended in June.

He will come to Wellington then, having completed negotiations this week with delighted Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.

"I've always had a good relationship with Carlos and from the first call I made to him our talks were positive," Herbert said.

"Getting Carlos to Wellington is a massive signing for the Phoenix because everyone has seen the impact he made in the A-League.

"He is an exciting player who can make things very difficult for the opposition and is a dead ball specialist."

Hernandez has played 35 times for his country, including at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

He joined Melbourne Victory, initially as a loan player, from Costa Rica club LD Alajuelense in 2007 and made an immediate impact.

He scored 40 goals in 138 games for Victory and won the Johnny Warren Medal for best player in the A-League in 2009-2010, operating at the heart of its attractive style.

His creative talents will be welcomed by a Phoenix club which has voiced a desire this year to change to employ a more attacking style of play.

"It was important that when a player of Carlos' ability became available that the club should try and get him here," Herbert said.

"It signals the direction the club is taking and Carlos fits perfect with our strategy.

"The fact that he has been A-League player of the year says it all as that is voted on by his peers."

"More labourers will die during construction than the footballers who will step on the pitch," said Burrow, now General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

"Qatar is a 21st-century slave state," the 58-year-old told left-wing Avgi daily in an interview.

Burrow said construction workers faced temperatures of up to 50C outdoors during the summer months.

Nepal alone had recorded 191 deaths among its nationals in 2010, most of them heart attacks, she said.

"They work at risk of heart attacks and dehydration ... many die at night from heat strokes," Burrow said, adding that a 'wall of silence' had followed pledges by Qatar authorities to improve work conditions.

Burrow noted that migrant labourers - who form the bulk of Qatar's private workforce - had no choice but to submit to such conditions as their passports are held by their employers upon entering the country.

And she called on construction firms bidding for 2022 World Cup contracts to take this into account.

"The way Qatar takes advantage of migrant workers is a disgrace to football," Burrow said.

"Pressure on Qatar will increase ... Qatar can no longer buy the respect of the international community," she said.

The 2012 UEFA Champions League winner last toured Asia in 2011 ahead of the season which secured the European Cup for the first time, as well as the FA Cup.

It is uncertain who will be the Chelsea manager for the trip, with Rafael Benitez's contract as interim boss ending at the end of the current season amid rumours of a Stamford Bridge return for Jose Mourinho, currently in charge at Real Madrid.

On 17 July, the Blues will play a Singha Thailand All-Star XI in the Singha Cup at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.

A fixture with a Malaysia XI at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur follows four days later.

Chelsea then plays in Indonesia for the first time, on 25 July, against an Indonesia XI at Jakarta's 88,000-seater Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Chief executive Ron Gourlay told chelseafc.com: "It is fantastic that we will be returning to Asia for what promises to be an excellent pre-season tour.

"South-east Asia remains home to an ever-growing and passionate Chelsea FC support and it gives me great pleasure that we will again be able to experience that wonderful hospitality.

"In particular I look forward to visiting Indonesia for the first time, a country where we have an extensive fan base that is eager to see Chelsea play.

"I am sure we will face strong opposition in packed stadiums as we celebrate the successes of some of our important regional partners, and we will once again leave an important legacy in terms of the community work we conduct during the tour and for long afterwards."

Argentina took the lead as early as the third minute when Mikael Lustig steered Gonzalo Higuain’s shot into his own net but Sweden equalised when Jonas Olsson headed home Kim Kallstrom’s corner after 17 minutes.

Sergio Aguero restored Argentina’s lead almost immediately with a deft chip and the South American side went 3-1 up in the 23rd minute when Higuain was on hand to fire home after Andreas Isaksson could only parry Messi’s powerful shot.

Rasmus Elm claimed a late consolation in added time for the Swedes as they fell to their first defeat at the Friends Arena, firing a thundering free kick into the top corner with what was almost the last kick of the game.

Russia, which boasts arguably the most impressive record so far from a European side in World Cup qualifying with four wins from four and no goals conceded, was also victorious with a 2-0 win over Finland.

Russia's Group F rival Portugal did not have such a successful evening as it was beaten 3-2 by Ecuador in Guimaraes.

Ecuador, which is second behind Argentina in the South American World Cup qualifying group, went ahead after just two minutes through Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia but Portugal hit back with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Helder Postiga to lead 2-1 heading into the final half-hour.

Postiga's 58th-minute effort was cancelled out almost immediately by a Joao Pereira own goal, though, and former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo netted what would turn out to be the winning goal for Ecuador 20 minutes from time.

Croatia captain Darijo Srna marked his 100th cap by scoring in a 4-0 friendly international win against Korea Republic.

The 30-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk stalwart curled in a 41st minute shot to follow an earlier header by Mario Mandzukic.

Nikica Jelavic then came off the bench to add a third goal before Mladen Petric completed the scoring on his Fulham home ground.

Two early goals helped Czech Republic heap more problems on struggling Turkey with a 2-0 friendly win at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

Ladislav Krejci opened the scoring in the fourth minute and David Lafata added a second in the 28th minute as Czech Republic took the honours.

For Turkey, the defeat is the latest in a series of disappointing results which has seen the EURO 2008 semi-finalist win just one of its last seven matches.

It has earned just three points from its opening four 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and is nine points behind Group D leader Netherlands heading into March's double-header against Andorra and Hungary.

Czech Republic resumes its bid to reach Brazil 2014 next month against a Denmark side which has yet to win in three Group B matches and crashed to a 3-0 friendly defeat to FYR Macedonia, all three goals coming in the opening half-hour.

In other early kick-offs, Ukraine was a 2-0 victor over Norway, Azerbaijan downed Liechtenstein 1-0, Malta drew 0-0 with Northern Ireland and Hungary tied 1-1 with Belarus.

Elsewhere, Wales saw off Austria 2-1, Scotland downed Estonia 1-0, Republic of Ireland was a 2-0 victor over Poland, Japan beat Latvia 3-0, Greece drew 0-0 with Switzerland and Georgia defeated Albania 2-1.

"Look at Singapore's track record against match-fixers in recent years," a spokesman for the Football Association of Singapore said.

"We were the first country in the world to convict a FIFA referee for match-fixing and have charged several leading players."

Referee T Rajamanickam was jailed for nine months in 1994.

Europol said a 19-month investigation with national police forces found that around 680 matches around the world from 2008 to 2011, including qualifying games for the FIFA World Cup and European championship, as well as UEFA Champions League games, were apparently fixed out of the city-state.

"Operations were run out of Singapore with bribes of up to 100,000 euros ($131,172) paid per match," said Friedhelm Althans, chief investigator for police in the German city of Bochum.

Singapore is also tarnished by association with Wilson Raj Perumal, a former Singapore amateur footballer and one of the world's most notorious fixers, currently awaiting trial in Hungary, under house arrest for protection against his former associates and creditors in the sporting demimonde.

But critics should not be too quick to condemn the whole of Singapore, says sports journalist Zaihan Yusof, who has followed corruption in football for years.

The corruption only involves 'a few Singaporeans, who apparently operate out of Singapore, linked to Asian betting syndicates and organised crime', he said.

Asian criminal gangs use match-fixing to launder money, he said, with most of the cash coming from China and South-East Asia.

A police spokesman also said that 'Singapore takes a strong stance against match-fixing and is committed to working with international enforcement agencies', but did not comment on Europol's statement.

"We have assisted the Italian authorities, through Interpol, in their investigations into an international match-fixing syndicate that purportedly involves a Singaporean," he said, referring to a case which has not resulted in prosecution.

FIFA's planned US$20 million ($19.31 million) anti-match-fixing education centre in Singapore was further 'ample proof of the intensive longer-term measures Singapore is taking to tackle the scourge of global match-fixing', he said.

But corruption in sport is pervasive, experts warned.

"Match-fixing is like prostitution, a global disease," said private investigator and former police officer Lionel de Souza.

"You cannot eradicate it but take strongest measures to minimise it."

The global nature of the syndicates makes them hard to track down and prosecute. Europol investigations, he noted, showed a single fixed match can involve up to 50 suspects in 10 different countries.

Football writer George Das, who has covered the sport for 35 years from Kuala Lumpur, said that 'match fixing has become a massive worldwide crime, on par with drug trafficking, prostitution and the trade in illegal weapons'.

But he said he was surprised by the Europol statement, and questioned Europol for failing to warn national associations.

"But if I were a football fan in any of those continents, I would be furious with my national football authorities," he said.

"I would also be asking which football officials knew what and when to pretend that someone inside the football world did not know about this level of corruption is unbelievable."

Anti-corruption authorities were stepping up their game in Asia, Alex Soosay, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, said.

Lu Jun, the first Chinese referee of a World Cup match, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for taking more than US$128,000 ($123,591) to fix games in the Chinese Super League, he said.

South Korean prosecutors have charged 57 people with match fixing in the K-League, four of whom later died in suspected suicides, he said.

And the problem is not limited to the beautiful game, said Imran Hamid, a Singapore-based lawyer and president of the Singapore Cricket Association (SCA).

Hamid, who also sits on the International Cricket Council's board, pointed out that three top-level Pakistan test cricketers were jailed in Britain in 2011 for 'spot fixing', or rigging part of a game.

Corruption is 'a global disease that appears to have infiltrated a lot of leading sports', he said.

It means United will return to the stadium in which it won the 2008 Club World Cup when it beat Ecuador outfit LDU Quito in the final.

United has already announced fixtures in Sydney and Hong Kong as part of the tour, and is expected to also visit Thailand, in addition to another match in Japan.

Responding to the Europol report on betting in world football, FFA CEO David Gallop said: “Match fixing and sports betting are serious matters that have the potential to cause serious damage to the integrity and image of any sport.”

“While our National Code of Conduct contains strong provisions relating to betting and match-fixing, as a governing body we have put significant processes in place to try and safeguard against betting and match fixing related issues, including ensuring athletes receive education specifically on betting and match-fixing.

“We have also taken steps to enter into product fee and integrity agreements with a number of betting operators in Australia and, most recently, we’ve commenced a partnership with Sportradar.

“FFA is a member of the Coalition of Major Professional & Participation Sports (COMPPS), the National Integrity of Sport Unit and has product fee and integrity agreements in place with leading betting operators.

“We are determined in our efforts to eliminate the potential of match fixing from football.”

In December 2012, the FFA commenced a 18-month agreement with Sportradar, an independent world leading betting monitoring organisation, to create another level of deterrence to match fixing in the A-League.

Sportradar is a leading supplier of betting and integrity related services with over 400 clients in more than 60 countries across five continents, including 30 state lotteries, betting operators, state authorities, law enforcement institutions and various global sports federations.

Sportradar also has particular expertise in relation to monitoring football matches as its clients includes UEFA, the English FA, the Estonian FA, the French FF, the German FA, the Scottish FA, the Czech FA, and the Italian Lega Pro.

FFA’s commitment to deterring any form of corruption in the A-League remains firm. This includes its support of the National Integrity of Sport Unit announced by Minister for Sport Kate Lundy in November last year.

FFA conducts, through its Speaker’s Bureau, an annual betting education program for all professional football players in the A-League and Westfield W-League.

FFA is currently working with the Australian internet wagering and sports betting industry to establish industry standard product fee and integrity agreements to ensure there is transparency and high level reporting on the betting markets available on the A-League.

It is FFA’s stated mission to finalise product fee and integrity agreements with all major betting operators operating in Australia.

The one-time agent of Harry Kewell, responded to the assertions of former Australia midfielder and SBS chief football analyst Craig Foster that Australian players opting for the Gulf states, Korea Republic and China over Europe was a concern.

"Today our best young prospects are being enticed directly to Asia, from where the majority will be unable to rise," Foster wrote.

"For most, any chance they had of playing at the top will be gone, along with the national team’s depth of playing pool.

"Seeing our best young talent head to UAE, Korea and China is extremely worrying."

Mandic, who brokered the transfers of Luke DeVere from Brisbane Roar and Brendan Hamill from Melbourne Heart to the K-League, represents other players in the K-League, Asia and Europe, and pointed out that there are 20 Koreans in the world’s top leagues and clubs – 80 per cent of whom are 24 or under.

The list includes Koo Ja-Cheol (Bundesliga, age 23, Augsburg on loan from Wolfsburg in Bundesliga), Ji Dong-Won (Bundesliga, age 21, Augsburg on loan from Sunderland), Son Heung-Min (Bundesliga, age 20, Hamburg), Park Jung-Bin (Bundesliga, age 18, Greuther Furth), Ki Sung-Yueng (English Premier League, age 24, Swansea City), and Yun Suk-Young (English Premier League, age 22, Queens Park Rangers).

Overall, the number of Korean players at the world’s top leagues and clubs includes five in the Bundesliga, three in the English Premier League, one in Spain's La Liga - who is on loan from Arsenal, plus players at CSKA Moscow, Bordeaux, FC Basel, Championship topping Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers, and three teenagers at Barcelona.

"If the question being asked is: Can Korea as a football culture and nation and the K-League consistently and repeatedly produce players, and in particular young players, that are wanted by the world’s best leagues and clubs? The answer is clear," Mandic said.

"If Australia had players in these numbers, particularly young players, we would all be significantly more comfortable regarding the direction in which Australian football was heading.

"No one that knows football would argue the point that transferring to a good European club is what is ideal for all players in order to reach their peak.

"But there is more than one way to get there and when an Asian country is able to produce this amount of young players playing in outstanding European leagues, it is logical that Australian young players are going to be influenced by such facts."

The number of Australian players in the K-League now stands at eight with DeVere and Hamill both using Korea's top flight as their first steps abroad.

"“Transferring to Korea for these players was a football decision made with reaching the top in mind and a decision that was supported by former 'Golden Generation' Socceroos that were consulted by the players on their transfers,” Mandic said.

"K-League clubs winning three out of the last four Asian Champions Leagues suggests that the K-League is a decent competition.

"Remarkably, there has not been one Japanese team in an ACL final and only one in an ACL semi-final in the last four years.

"Also, the South Korean Olympic team defeated Great Britain in Great Britain and Japan on the way to coming third in the 2012 Olympic Games.

"Together with the sheer amount of Korean players in the world’s top leagues and clubs, it shows clearly that Korea and the K-League can consistently produce outstanding players that are wanted at the world's best leagues and clubs."