10 Oct 2012

Asian Cup wants A-League break in 2015

8:12 am on 10 October 2012

The organisers of the 2015 Asian Cup want the A-League to take a break for the three weeks of what they say will be the biggest football event ever held in Australia.

The draw for the event's qualifying rounds was held in Melbourne, but Australia are already through to the finals to be held in January 2015 due both to their host nation status and runners-up finish in 2011 in Qatar.

Sydney will host the final, expected to be played on January 31, the same weekend as the Australian Open tennis finals in Melbourne - Sydney will also host the two semi-finals.

Melbourne will host the Asian Cup's opening match, on the weekend of January 8, but missed out on the games at the business end of the tournament, partly to avoid clashing with the tennis grand slam event.

The Asian Cup's Local Organising Committee says while it was a crowded period in the sport and event markets, the tournament wants to avoid clashing with their own sport.

The committee's deputy chief executive, Shane Harmon, says there is a chance the A-League could continue in venues which are not being used in the Asian Cup.