Christmas BBQ in Seoul.

Forget the Ballon d'Or, Asia's annual awards are coming soon. But, a year after being responsible for one of the biggest scandals in Asian football history, the Football Association of Malaysia is in the running to be named National Association of the Year. This is despite there being no accountability or transparency. Fans still don't know who is responsible. French journalist @Romain_Molina called it "a joke" and it is hard to disagree. howfootballexplainsasia.subs…

UAE team, according to reports, refuses to travel to Riyadh for Asian Champs League game with Al-Nassr after recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Monday's game has been postponed. The Asian Cup in January is likely to go the same way unless there is a significant development soon.

All of Asia won't vote for Infantino- AFC president Sheikh Salman has admitted as much - but the majority of member associations will.

I reviewed the Gulf Cup and ASEAN Cup and more besides in this issue

AFC choose Asian realpolitik over global reform. Asia's leadership could not present a united front against Infantino so have performed a major U-turn in what is a big win for the FIFA president. As well as the open supporters of Infantino in Asia, this decision gives the green light to those associations would have supported Salman out of loyalty, to switch. howfootballexplainsasia.subs…

The Asian Football Confederation now supports Gianni Infantino in FIFA re-election. AFC boss Sheikh Salman, who had called for change along with UEFA and Concacaf, but many Asian associations did not agree.

South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in Qatar next month. It's not good news for the Asian Cup that the host of the tournament is playing overseas just weeks before the big kick off. Both Korea and Saudis had planned to meet in Jeddah but the venue has changed for obvious reasons. Also, tonight's Saudi PL game between Al-Ahli and Al-Khaleej has been postponed after the attacks on Dammam airport yesterday.

How Football Explains Asia is my Substack in which I try to cover Asian football, in my own way, as one of the few fully independent freelance voices. Last week, it reached #31 in Rising International Substacks and subscribers are always welcome! howfootballexplainsasia.subs…

In 2011, South Korea's league could make a case for being the strongest in Asia. Yet that year, the K-League, and the country, was rocked by a massive match-fixing scandal. It destroyed lives, careers and reputations. Here is a look at what happened and why no league is safe. howfootballexplainsasia.subs…

"Without a breakthrough hrom somewhere there is a growing acceptance that Asia’s biggest football tournament, scheduled to kick off on January 7, won’t go ahead as planned." howfootballexplainsasia.subs…

A look at whether the Manchester City affair will damage the Premier League's popularity in Asia.

Some great weekend reading: The influence of magic and sorcery in Iranian football by @behnam_jk “Before matches, if [the manager] wanted to neutralise a rival team’s star player, he’d say the player’s name out loud, blow into a plastic bag, tie it shut with string—and that was his magic. "We won four matches in a row using this method” howfootballexplainsasia.subs…

Welcome to Asian Football. In 2025, Malaysia FA uses false papers to register 7 players with no ties to the country. There has been no accountability or transparency, only a very belated apology. In 2026, the FA is on the AFC's shortlist for 2026 Association of the Year.

David Silva is going to Hong Kong. My take for @guardian theguardian.com/football/202…

Splitting the award into two is unsatisfactory but understandable Goes back to 2005 when Park Ji sung was clearly the POTY but was busy with Manchester United and was never going to be able to attend so it went to Hamad Al Montashari. For years, being available was a main criteria so the decision was made to split the prize. AFC doesn't want to have a ceremony where the winners of the main prize arent there.

AFC awards get crazier by the year. Salem Al-Dawsari has had a great career but hasn't played for months.

Always reflects badly on the club when reporters are banned. I was once banned by FC Seoul from covering their games but accreditation came from the K-League, who stepped in and told Seoul to start acting like a professional sports club.