Central Asia Domestic Wrap: Istiklol in control as league pauses, Ahal impress

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Central Asia Domestic Wrap: Istiklol in control as league pauses, Ahal impress

Bishkek: FC Istiklol brought up an impressive milestone, while Khatlon continued their excellent start in the last round of football before a league suspension in Tajikistan, and FC Ahal underlined their title credentials with another win Turkmenistan.

Domestic action remains on hold in Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan, although players from both countries featured in Belarusian Premier League action.

Join the-AFC.com for all the latest from Gissar to Grodno.

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Recoveries, resumptions and remembrance

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Recoveries, resumptions and remembrance

Kuala Lumpur: There has been plenty of positive news in recent days, with a star player's recovery from illness in Japan and confirmation that football is set to return in Korea Republic in the near future among the headlines. 

Elsewhere, Ramadan got underway, Australia marked ANZAC Day and domestic action continued in Chinese Taipei, so join the-AFC.com as we round up the action on and off the pitch.

Tajikistan Football League on hold until May 10

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tajikistan Football League on hold until May 10

Dushanbe:  All football competitions in Tajikistan will be temporarily halted from Monday, after the Tajikistan Football Federation (TFF) announced a nationwide suspension on Saturday evening.

The move, aimed at helping prevent the COVID-19 outbreak in the Central Asian country, means the top-level Tajikistan Football League will be put on hiatus until May 10, following the conclusion of the fourth round of fixtures on Sunday.

With no confirmed COVID-19 cases in the nation, Tajikistan’s championship had been one of a few active competitions in Asian football.

Tristan Do hails Thai League revamp 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tristan Do hails Thai League revamp 

Bangkok: Tristan Do has praised the decision to switch the Thai League 1 season to a September start, with the Bangkok United defender believing the competition will have greater appeal to players around the world. 

Thailand’s 2020 domestic season is currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but plans are in place to resume in September should the situation have improved enough to allow competitive sport to restart.

The Thai FA has long-since discussed the idea of moving the schedule to be more in line with European leagues and the unprecedented situation around the world at present could have inadvertently offered them the chance to do so sooner than expected.

K League season to kick off May 8

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

K League season to kick off May 8

Seoul: The Korea Republic men's professional football season will kick off on May 8, more than two months after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Korea Professional Football League (K League) announced on Friday that the top-flight K League 1 and the second-tier K League 2 will both begin their 2020 season on May 8.

The opening match will have three-time defending K League 1 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors host Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

The decision was reached during the league's meeting with club representatives in a board meeting at the league headquarters in Seoul. Matches will be played behind closed doors.

The K League said there will also be matches on May 9 and 10, with fixtures announced next week.

Football in the time of COVID-19: Chinese Taipei

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Football in the time of COVID-19: Chinese Taipei

Taipei: Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of April, football returned to East Asia with the 2020 season kick off of the Chinese Taipei Premier League. We spoke to two young stars from the men's and women's teams of top-flight side Hang Yuan FC to get their views on playing in one of only a few active domestic football championships in the world.

Highly rated 20-year-old midfield prospect Wu Yen-shu, who idolises Ronaldinho and Son Heung-min, and Hang Yuan FC Women's captain Chen Ying-hui, 21 and a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo and Chinese Taipei veteran Lai Li-chin, revealed their experiences, hopes and goals for this season in an exclusive interview with the-AFC.com.