Asian Football Tournaments to Go Ahead This Year, Official Says
6 April 16, 2020 European Soccer Set Asian Football Tournaments to for UEFA-Led Talks on Go Ahead This Year, Official Says Restart Options of the Asian Football Confedera- tournaments to go ahead “for tion (AFC), said he was confident sporting reasons and to fulfill com- that the AFC Champions League mercial obligations”, he said. and AFC Cup would both be com- His comments came after the pleted. AFC on Tuesday announced the Both tournaments, featuring indefinite postponement of all teams from throughout Asia, matches scheduled for May and Central Asia and the Middle June due to the virus. East, are on hold until at least The Champions League, the re- the end of June after COVID-19 gion’s premier club competition, shuttered professional sport and the second-tier AFC Cup worldwide. were both halted in March as the “Both will be played this year. pandemic’s spread forced govern- We still have time,” John told AFP, ments to impose strict travel re- adding that new dates for the com- strictions. GENEVA (AP) -- UEFA will host bodies making quick decisions to petitions may be known by the end Both tournaments are on an in- another round of talks next week end its domestic season. A joint of April. creasingly tight schedule, with the However, John did not rule out 32-team Champions League need- with European soccer leaders as statement was issued two weeks KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia official told AFP, although games matches being played without fans ing to complete four rounds of they look for a way to end the shut- ago with the European Leagues (AFP) - Asia’s top football competi- may have to be played behind closed “if that’s what the health authori- group-stage matches in July before down caused by the coronavirus and European Club Association tions will go ahead this year despite doors.
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