Iran heads Asia FIFA ranking
Powerhouse Iran with 689 points still head the Asia Zone soccer playing nations in the FIFA ranking according to a report released in April by the FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland. Highest four times Asia Champions Japan follow Iran with 614 points.
South Korea with 575 points have captured the third position while reigning continental champions Australia secured fourth place with 531 points. The fifth to the 7th place holders are United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and China.
FIFA ranking is an honour for the football playing nations. Points are counted for win, draw and defeat after a match. It does not end here. Win against Japan is not equal to win against any South Asian team because Japan are a much stronger side.
However, critics have raised the transparency of the ranking. Brazil, which won all the six matches they played after the World Cup nightmare, are still in the fifth place, whereas all of Germany, Argentina, Columbia and Belgium lost more than one match in last nine months.
Bangladesh have, on the other hand, dropped farther. So, we ask the Bangladesh Football Federation to revive the Dhaka Senior Division Football League immediately.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
