ABU DHABI (AFP) - Football managers used to screaming themselves hoarse during games are finding little need to reach for a post-match lozenge at the Asian Cup - where their voices echo around sparsely-populated stadia.
This month's tournament in the United Arab Emirates has struggled to attract crowds, with some coaches grumbling about the swathes of empty seats at the continent's showpiece competition.
"I personally think the atmosphere of the Asian Cup could be a little more enthusiastic, more exciting," Iran boss Carlos Queiroz told reporters.
"To be honest not only me but the Chinese, everyone, has been talking about it. (They) expected much better and a more enthusiastic atmosphere all over the country and at all the stadiums."
Hosted under the slogan "Bringing Asia together", the Asian Cup has so far fallen short of persuading enough of the region's fans to turn up and watch games.
Iran look one of the teams to beat, but barely 5,000 watched them thrash tournament first-timers Yemen 5-0 in their opening game at Abu Dhabi's Mohammed bin Zayed stadium - a venue that seats 40,000.
Barely a thousand more showed up to watch holders Australia and four-time champions Japan reach the quarter-finals, while even hosts UAE have played at half-empty grounds.
"We were expecting a bigger turnout," Mohammed Khalfan Al Romaithi, chairman of the UAE General Authority for Sports, told AFP.
"We are surprised by the lack of UAE fans too," he admitted in an interview. "This is a culture that I hope will change. Loyalty must always be there - win or lose."
Teams have complained of poor facilities with one from the Middle East accusing organisers of "cultural insensitivity" for suggesting their players use the hotel pool to recover from games despite many of the deck-chairs being occupied by bikini-clad holiday makers.
Meanwhile, fans have spoken of being asked by Asian Cup officials to leave their allotted areas to fill seats directly opposite the television cameras.
Just a couple of hundred witnessed Qatar's 6-0 demolition of North Korea in Al-Ain as locals snubbed the game and the long-running blockade of the Gulf state by its neighbours meant it was played in an eery silence.
UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni bizarrely blamed "cold weather" for another disappointing turnout when his side beat Kyrgyzstan 3-2 in extra time to reach the last eight this week.
"Maybe they preferred to stay home and watch it on television," shrugged the Italian, opening another can of worms.
Oman coach Pim Verbeek wanted to watch Asian Cup matches on TV but was puzzled to find they were largely unavailable at hotels, many of which don't show Qatari rights holders beIN Sports.
"It's a pity the games are not on television," shrugged the Dutchman. "I miss that in this tournament."
Liverpool's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk takes part in a press conference at the training ground in Liverpool on the eve of a UEFA Champions league quarter-final football match against Porto on
'Cannot Stop Messi Alone,' Admits Van Dijk - thequint.com
VIGO, May 4 (Reuters) - Barcelona fell to their first La Liga defeat since November as the champions were beaten 2-0 at struggling Celta Vigo after making 11 changes but forward Ousmane Dembele
Apr 27, 2019 · LONDON (AP) — Norwich is returning to the English Premier League after a three-year absence, and Sheffield United is likely to be promoted, too. Norwich, from eastern England, clinched one of
Norwich Promoted To Premier League After Three-Year Absence
Tottenham vs Liverpool, the 2019 Champions League final. After two incredible comebacks - Liverpool vs Barcelona and Spurs against Ajax - we have an all-English final. There is exclusive live
Football: Liverpool and Spurs fans call on sponsors to hand
Rescuers ended their search on Thursday for the plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala, which disappeared over the English Channel three days ago, after saying there was little
Rescuers end search for missing plane carrying football
Dec 13, 2012 · MLS: Former Mexico and Barcelona star Rafael Márquez is to leave the New York Red Bulls, ending a troubled time in MLS. But where does he rank among the league's big-signing flops.
Kane and Lloris rescue point for Spurs against Arsenal | Free
A 'keeper you could always bank on, Football News & Top
Real Madrid remains six points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga after a dramatic Clasico encounter at Camp Nou ended 1-1 following Sergio Ramos's last-gasp equalizer in the 90th minute
World Snooker Championship 2018: Wakelin rues missed chance
Emery believes Klopp's continued progress at Anfield is an example for Arsenal to follow in the near-future. "This team three seasons ago, they were playing in the final of the Europa League," Emery said. "Their development was to last season play the final in the Champions League.
Emery urges Arsenal to focus on Europa League clash against
Forget 'the Man United way', let Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be himself. By A late comeback playing attacking football in the knockout stages of Europe's elite
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the importance of playing the
Neymar denies raping woman in Paris luxury hotel, dad calls
Jong Ajax won Eerste Divisie (the league below the Eredivisie) last year, while Heitinga's under-19s topped their pool in the UEFA Youth League and the under-17s took the Future Cup last April. All the while, the club tries to stay true to its foundation: giving youth a chance and playing beautiful football while keeping Cruyff at the forefront.
The Ajax stars who've stunned the world with Champions League
Football: Former Lion Kadir Yahaya joins Tampines Rovers as adviser, to guide coach-in-waiting Gavin Lee. SINGAPORE - In a coaching reshuffle for next season's Singapore Premier League (SPL), Tampines Rovers will be guided by one of
Tampines Rovers FC - Wikipedia
best site to watch live soccer streaming
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch live soccer stream android
watch soccer live stream app
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch soccer live streaming reddit
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch english premier league live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch premier league darts live stream
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch premier league live streaming free
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch premier league live streaming vk
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch the champions league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch soccer games live stream free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming usa
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch coppa america live streaming vf
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch live soccer streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch premier league live streaming juventus
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch live streaming soccer games
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch coppa america live streaming yify
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch premier league live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch champions league final online free live streaming
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
#liverpoolfans #Vip45 #footballstreaming #kopisusu #hotcoffee #coyg #fut #seriea #leomessi #streamingbolaid #JUVENTUS #visubal #transfernews #arsenalfantv #noelgallagher #Suarez #chocolatecoffee #nikesoccer #soccermemes #girlsniteout #bayervshoffenheim #Sunday #paulmcartney #klopp #Celtic #Liamgallagher #americanfootball #ignoranza #villarealcf #uefanationsleague #football #MSport #tokyo #ucl #barcelona #commentimemorabili #footballdubai #kickoff #battuteepiche #footballmeme #lovefootball #vandijk #liverpool #beatifulgame #vip #conference #oasisofficial #frasirap #football #liverpool #hoffenhiem #trollfootball
0 Comments