The president of Asia's football governing body says Gulf nations want the Socceroos expelled from the continental confederation.

Ahead of Saturday's Asian Cup final between the Socceroos and South Korea in Sydney, the Asian Football Confederation's president Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa said he was aware of momentum in the AFC for Australia's removal from Asian football.

Salman told Dubai-based newspaper Al-Ittihad that "Arabs are not the only ones" looking to exclude Australia.

"Australia joined the AFC before I was elected as the president," Salman said.

"At that time, the AFC general assembly made no resolution about re-assessing Australia's membership to determine whether it will stay or be evicted.

"There are indications that prove that such desire exists among the confederations of west Asia to evict Australia.

"But I also know that the Arabs are not the only ones who are not convinced that Australia's membership in Asia's football is feasible."

Salman says he is content with Australia's involvement in the AFC but says dissenting nations could raise the issue at this year's general assembly.

With Australia regularly qualifying for the World Cup since joining the confederation after its 2006 qualification via the Oceania group, there is a feeling among aspirational west Asian nations that the Socceroos are taking a spot away from the rest of the continent.

Taken back ... FFA chief David Gallop. ( Getty Images: Robert Cianflone )

But FFA chief David Gallop has hit back, saying Australia does make a significant contribution to the AFC.

"We were extremely surprised to hear of these press reports from west Asia," Gallop told Fairfax.

"We are newcomers to AFC but our commitment to participate in competitions, membership of important AFC committees and general sharing of ideas and programs increases every year.

"We celebrate the diversity of the Asian region and this tournament has shown our contribution can go beyond football to create and foster social and political bridges between key trading partners in the region.

"Importantly, Australia is also in the top five markets for television rights in the entire confederation. It has been educational for Australians and Australia's multiculturalism has been on show.

"We have educated over 50,000 children about Asia through our Asian Cup primary school course."

Should Australia win the Asian Cup, it will hold both the international and club Asian titles after the Western Sydney Wanderers' Asian Champions League victory in 2014.