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Political geology is strongly present in the Asian Cup
Saudi Arabia faces Qatar, Jordan faces Syria, China faces the Philippines.
These are not just examples of countries whose international relations are inflamed, it is the 2019 Asian Nations Cup, the largest football tournament on the continent, which runs until February 1 in different places in the United Arab Emirates.
But the Asian Cup, which teams have been competing since 1956, is a problematic event due to debates outside the game. Regional conflicts, religious clashes and even proxy wars make it difficult for the 24 teams to play in this tournament. year.
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Here are some of the most competitive games that go beyond the green rectangle:
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Chinese fans did not respond to Japan's victory in 2004
Old war wounds
Brazilian football legend Zico described the final of the 2004 Asian Cup between Japan and China in Beijing: "I was so tense that I had never seen it in all my life as a technical trainer ". Zico was then coach of Japan. On the turbulent atmosphere of football in South America.
On the road to play, China has criticized Japanese acts described as brutality in the Far East in the early 20th century and during the Second World War.
Tensions have increased to such an extent that Japanese authorities have been urged to advise fans not to wear any national symbols in their legal proceedings.
The tension increased after Japan's Koji Nakata scored a goal against China in the 68th minute after the 3-1 draw in favor of Japan.
Riots erupted outside the stadium. Japanese supporters also need a police escort in the middle of scenes showing Chinese supporters burning Japanese flags.
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Iran-Saudi rivalry begins at a young age
Meet enemies
Given any list of internationally competitive football teams in a charged political climate, Saudi Arabia's match against Iran will feature prominently on this list.
Both teams have won the Asian Cup three times, the most recent in 1996 in Saudi Arabia, but the reasons for enmity between the two countries have more geopolitical problems.
Tensions now include the proxy war that the kingdom is waging against Iran on Syrian soil, where the Tehran government supports its counterpart in the Bashar al-Assad government.
Regarding Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia, his government supports armed groups in their efforts to overthrow the Assad regime in the Syrian civil war as part of a plan to contain Iran's influence in the Middle-East.
The fact that both countries are involved in another proxy war in Yemen makes things even more complicated.
The signs of enmity have already spread in the green rectangle: in 2016, Saudi Arabia had announced that it would not play in Tehran as a result of attacks against its diplomatic mission to Tehran as part of protests against the execution of the famous cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia.
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The support of the Union in Korea has decreased
The organizers of the 2019 AFC Cup may not like a possible showdown between the Saudis and the Iranians, who could meet in the round of 16 because they are in two adjacent groups.
The history of the two Koreas
The fragile peace between the two Koreas must be reflected on the ground, do you agree with that? Not quite, it seems.
For Koreans, it is not surprising that each country encourages its neighbor's team. Players such as Yong Tai-si in North Korea have been very popular in South Korea.
The North Korean press celebrated the success of Japan's hosting by South Korea for the 2002 World Cup and the arrival of their semi-finalists as the first Asian team to do so.
Sharing a shared sense of Korean unity, the majority of the north and south sides of the peninsula are still supportive of the return of unity, even though popular support for the block has diminished in the southern part, from nearly 90% in 1969 to 58% last year. Korean national unit.
In 2008, however, the venue for the World Cup qualifiers between Pyongyang and Shanghai was changed after the North Korean regime refused to allow the national anthem or to raise the South Korean flag at Kim Il Sung Stadium.
A year later, in Seoul, the North Korean authorities blamed a 1-0 defeat on an alleged ploy to poison their players.
Both Koreas participate in the 2019 Asian Cup.
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Israel was banned from participating in the 1974 Asia Cup of Nations
Israel, a "European"
This is not a "redefinition" of international football teams. The Australian team was transferred to the AFC in 2006 for more competitive matches than the Oceania Cup, and Australia defeated the American Samoa team (31-0), for example.
Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup, will compete in the Copa America (South American International) tournament as part of a program to give more experience to its national team.
As for Israel's position in the European Cup, it is even more complicated since 1994.
Despite joining the Nations of Europe Cup, the Jewish state faced boycotts of Muslim countries from day one.
In 1958, Israel won the World Cup qualifiers in the region without playing a single match, forcing FIFA to hold playoffs between Wales and Israel.
In 1964, Israel hosted and won the Asian Cup, but 11 teams withdrew from the tournament.
Israel qualified as an Asian country for the 1970 World Cup and did not compete in the 1974 Asian Games until Iran intensified tensions in the Middle East, leading to its exclusion from the Cup of Nations. Asia, 1974.
From 1982 to 1994, Israel participated in international tournaments in Europe and Oceania before becoming an official member of the European Football Federation – and Israeli clubs participated in the Champions League.
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South Korean Yung-woo Park wears political slogan in late Saddam with Japan
Japan and South Korea
Although the 2002 World Cup was held together, relations between Japan and South Korea are rather complex.
Japanese rule on the Korean Peninsula, some 35 years old (1910-1945), left much of the grudge, and the two countries still have controversial issues regarding the forced labor of hundreds of thousands of men and women. Korean women during the occupation.
In 1954, the South Korean government held a World Cup qualifier against Japan's entry into Japan. "It's too early," President Segman Ree was quoted as saying.
In the end, Seoul pulled out of the right to face the Korean fans and both matches were played on Japanese soil.
The Koreans won the match 7-3 and it's hard to understand how President Ray threatens the players "not to dare to come back in case of loss."
In 2012, the Koreans returned to their neighbors, this time in a match to determine the winner of the bronze medal at the London Olympics.
Midfielder Park Yong-woo posted a banner bearing the inscription "Dokdo Region", referring to a small disputed island called Japan Takeshima, which prompted the International Olympic Committee to withdraw its medal.
A year later, a banner of local supporters declared: "There is no future for a generation of forgotten history" with a general interest that covered Japan's 2-1 win at the East Asian Cup.
Curiously, North Korea has adopted a different tactic: the country has represented a number of players of Japanese descent, including Yong Tai-si, who led North Korea to the 2010 World Cup – the second once the country participates in the tournament.
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Qatar's borders are not closed by Saudi Arabia until June 2017
The pain of the seat
Another common problem for Saudi Arabia is that on 17 January Saudi Arabia will face Qatar in a match that could be considered decisive in their group.
This is the first time the two sides have met since the diplomatic crisis that has led Saudi Arabia and other countries to break ties with Qatar for more than a year and a half.
"In the end, sports have a message of peace and that is what we are trying to do.We hope to represent our country during the competition," said the Qatari team's media coordinator.
However, controversy arose when Saud Al-Mohannadi, vice-president of Qatar and member of the AFC Executive Committee, was banned from entering the United Arab Emirates.
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The Philippines is one of the countries claiming ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea archipelago in the midst of a regional conflict with Beijing.
Difficult meetings await China
China has signed South Korea in the third set. But the match against the Philippines on January 11 is worrying beyond the green rectangle.
The Philippines is one of the countries claiming ownership of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea archipelago in the midst of a regional conflict with Beijing.
Tensions increased after China was accused of militarizing its presence in the archipelago in recent years.
Vietnam is another country in the competition that claims ownership of the Spratly Islands. China will face another tough confrontation with India, which is fighting with it in unstable border areas, including the Doklam Plateau, which has resulted in a confrontational confrontation between the military forces of the two countries in 2017.
Another border dispute erupted between the two countries, triggering a violent conflict between them in 1962, leaving at least 2,000 dead and many wounded.
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Iran's support for Houthis in Yemen has contributed to the tension in relations between the two countries
Iran against Yemen
Iran has joined Iraq and Yemen, as well as Vietnam.
While Iran's relations with Iraq have improved markedly after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, it can not be said that relations between Tehran and Sanaa have improved.
Relations between the two countries have been frozen since the Iranian revolution of 1979 – which overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had supported Yemeni fighters against armed Marxists in the 1960s.
Iran's support for Huthi militants in Yemen against the Saudi-backed government has further worsened relations.
The two teams met on January 7 in Abu Dhabi in the first round and Iran won (5-0).
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Syria was about to enter the 2018 World Cup
Syria's affairs
Syria's presence in the competition came after Musharraf's performance in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, and Syria was close to home.
In the Asian Nations Cup this year, Syria tied equality with Palestine on January 6th. Syria played an important game against Jordan on 10 January. She was the biggest surprise after defeating the defending champions, Australia 1-0), Jordan beat Syria (2-0).
Relations between Damascus and Amman have deteriorated because of his support for opposition groups and American intervention in the Syrian civil war.
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