There are different ways to say “Football, Bloody Hell”. Alex Ferguson’s tone after Manchester United’s win over Barcelona in the 1999 Champions League final was full of wonder and delight. In Asia, exasperation is currently more common, especially if the order of words is switched to move the football part to the end. Another cliche is correct in that this game really can be one of two halves, the beautiful side bringing people together and the other doing anything but.
It was only last month that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced clubs from Iran and Saudi Arabia would play home and away in the Asian Champions League for the first time since 2015. It was, the governing body said, a “positive development, a groundbreaking agreement” and a “historic move”. Here was the sport helping to break down barriers.
