Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tokyo: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee has requested that the Member Associations affected by travel bans approach their Governments to allow football teams to be exempt from such restrictions.
The AFC regulations state that visas should be issued and safety and security should be guaranteed by the host nation and the Competitions Committee recommended that the Governments should be reminded of this regulation.
It was also recommended that, if necessary, a high-level delegation from the AFC should seek a solution between the affected parties.
The AFC Asian Cup qualifying Group A match between Kyrgyz Republic and Myanmar, which was postponed from September 5, 2017 because of security concerns, will now be played on March 22, 2018 at a neutral venue, with the Football Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic covering all the costs of the Myanmar team and of the match organisation, including airfares and accommodation.
The two Member Associations will be requested to agree on the neutral venue, and if they fail to reach a consensus the AFC will make the appointment.
On issues related to club competitions, the AFC Champions League draw for the 2018 competition will take place in Kuala Lumpur on December 6, 2017 and the AFC Competition Committee expressed a desire to maintain a home-and-away format for Asia’s leading club competition, wherever the venue is.
There will also be a study on the costs and benefits of the proposal by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation that the AFC age-group competitions should no longer be separated into zones at the qualifying stage but instead be an open draw.
Photo: AFC