The new Asian Super League rules hint at the need for the league's yearly rotation. The Japanese league has already started to implement it, how should the Chinese Super League respond? The current team layout suggests that northern teams will have an advantage if they adopt the annual rotation, but fans may suffer. Moreover, the condition of the stadiums may be difficult to meet expectations during the yearly rotation.
In the old days, the Chinese league kicked off in March, and the tournament went on even when the snow was falling, but nowadays, such tournaments are no longer seen.
Lumley International Soccer Buzz
When Taishan won their first double, one of the matches in the northeast was held in the snow, showing the poor conditions of the venue, but the match was still played and the fans' participation was not bad. However, such matches have not been played for a long time, as the league tends to end around October and does not offer such opportunities.
Even though the league can start from March, there is no chance for northern teams to play in snowy fields despite the fact that most of their away matches start in snowy fields, showing the league's improved field requirements. Although the hardware facilities have been improved, the problem cannot be solved completely. Most of the winter matches in the European leagues are possible because of heating systems or artificial turf, or because of individual pitches.
The venue issue is undoubtedly the biggest challenge of the annual round, and in the case of Ateneo's home ground, the low winter temperatures have made it difficult for many players to endure.
In addition, the team's players' contracts mostly expire on Dec. 31, with a rare run to June 30th.
Lumley International Soccer Buzz
Super League player contracts generally end on December 31st. If the yearly rotation is implemented, numerous players will need to adjust their contracts to June 30, or extend their contracts, or shorten them by six months, which is key.
The FA had intended to fast-track the yearly rotation, but the timing has not been made clear, which is quite challenging. If the tournament system is implemented, many players will need to adjust their contracts, which will otherwise be inconvenient. After all, some players have long wanted to leave the team, but may change their mind when adjusting their contracts and choose to leave early.
This is key. If the yearly rotation is implemented, the FA's national team training will be challenged. Players will not be able to return to the team until the national team match day, and if they are involved in training, they may not have a tournament to attend for the entire season.
The winter break will be inevitable and probably long. Usually the league starts in August and ends in May, which is not conducive to long-term training for national team players. After all, under the current format, matches such as the Asian Super League are also interspersed.
As a result, New Year's Eve fixtures look difficult to implement in the Premier League. Venue issues are tricky and player contracts are complicated. If the national team wishes to train for a long period of time, it would be best to avoid the New Year's Eve format.
