By David Gold
February 5 - Australian champions Brisbane Roar have been fully taken over by Indonesia's Bakrie Group, who had purchased a 70 per cent share in the club last October.
The Australian Football Federation (FFA) had held a 30 per cent stake after the Bakrie Group's initial investment, which came with the club in administration despite having just won the A-league unbeaten.
Prior to Bakrie Group's investment, the club had been run by the FFA after the previous owners relinquished their license.
Bakrie Group's football investments range from Belgium to Uruguay, and Aga Bakrie, who heads the company, sees a positive future for Brisbane Roar.
"The Bakrie Group sees huge potential in the...A-League as one of Asia's top professional club competitions and naturally we want the Brisbane Roar to be in the forefront of this development," he said.
"Our aim is to develop the Roar into Australia's biggest club and carry that success across Asia."
Brisbane Roar will begin their Asian Champions League campaign next month against Japan's FC Tokyo, before facing Chinese outfit Beijing Guoan and South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai.
The takeover will be a boost for the FFA, which has been forced to step in to help teams in Australia cope with funding crises in recent years as they work to boost the sport's profile in the country.
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