China wins most in AFC awards, but loses in CL slot allocation

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China boasted the biggest winner in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) award ceremony here on Tuesday, wrapping up the Player of the Year and Club of the Year, but lost half spot in AFC Champions League (CL) slot allocation.

Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande grabbed the AFC Club of the Year as the the Italian Marcello Lippi-coached big-spending club won the first AFC Champions League title for China in 23 years.

As a former Celtic and Charlton Athletic midfielder, Chinese captain Zheng Zhi, 33, was awarded the AFC Player of the Year. It's the second Chinese to win the coveted prize after defender Fan Zhiyi was bestowed the accolade in 2001.

Despite the glory in the AFC awards night, China's AFC Champions League spots are cut from four to three and a half in the next three years. China can secure three direct slots in the Champions League competition, but the fourth Chinese berth has to be decided through a playoff.

Hong Kong of China is allocated half spot in the Champions League.

Asian football powerhouses Japan and South Korea maintain their four direct spots in the group phrase for East Asia, while Iran and Saudi Arabia sustain four for West Asia.

China is ranked in third place on AFC scoreboard in East Asia after Japan and South Korea.

The AFC Champions League will introduce go-ahead system on a zonal basis until the semifinals, which can avoid the final to be played between teams from the same zone for the next three years.

In the 2013 AFC Champions League, three teams from East Asia entered the top four. The final was played between China's Guangzhou Evergrande and South Korea's FC Seoul.

• Guangzhou striker Muriqui awarded AFC Foreign Player of the Year
• China wins AFC Fair Play Association of the Year award
• Chinese netizens well accept China's Asian Cup qualifier draw
• China miss qualification chance after draw with Saudi Arabia

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