Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Geneva: FIFA and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease.
Saudi Arabia legend Sami Al Jaber has backed the initiative alongside India's Sunil Chhetri, China PR's Han Duan and Sun Wen, Korea Republic's Park Ji-sung and Japan's Asako Takakura along with 22 other global stars in the video campaign - Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: In these unprecedented and challenging times, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) extends its wish that all members of the Asian football community remain safe and healthy.
Football will have an important role to play in the weeks and months ahead as the world returns to normality, but now our focus is firmly on protecting the well-being of all those who are involved in our great game.
Each of you, in varying degrees, have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and many of your Governments have taken swift and strong action to prevent its spread and limit its impact on your communities including partial lockdown or restricting movement.
Indeed, in Malaysia, the home of AFC House, the Government has, as you have been informed, imposed a Movement Control Order and, as a precaution, the AFC had starting 17 March 2020 imposed a two week “work from home” initiative to safeguard the staff and their families from further exposure and will be extended if necessary.
In the meantime, business continues as normal to serve the needs of all our Member and Regional Associations as well as our wide range of stakeholders. I have instructed the Administration to process all approved AFAP payments on an urgent basis to ensure salaries of staff and other contractual payments can be made without any delay.
As you know the rapid spread of the Covid-19 virus has led to the AFC, with your agreement, postponing matches and events. The AFC thanks you for your continued support, advice and co-operation.
Again, these changes to our calendar were aimed at ensuring the safety and health of our Members, their officials, their players, their staff and, of course, the millions of fans who engage with football in Asia each year.
Their health is, and always will be, our priority.
And that is why it is important that the AFC and all our Member and Regional Associations work with Governments and Health Agencies to curtail the threat of this virus and that everyone should take all precautions.
The AFC strongly urges all its Members to follow the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to exercise the highest levels of hygiene and are pleased to note that some Members have also declared a “work from home” initiative.
The AFC has built its strong foundations on unity and solidarity – particularly in the face of adversity – during the last six years and this situation is another challenge which we will take on together to protect not only our communities but also the future of our game.
Of course, the AFC will take a strong lead and will, as always, be on hand to offer advice and assistance to any of our Member and Regional Associations in these uncertain times.
Please all remain safe and I look forward to the time when football can again play a significant role in bringing excitement and joy to people across Asia.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Australia’s A-League is the latest top-flight competition to be suspended as a consequence of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirming the league’s postponement on Tuesday.
The competition pauses with only a handful of regular season matches remaining for each club, after Australian states introduced unprecedented border restrictions within the country, making it impossible for the remaining matches to be completed as scheduled.
The FFA’s intention is for the A-League – one of few Asian leagues to have continued in recent weeks – to resume as soon as practically possible, with the situation to be reassessed on April 22.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Chinese Super League (CSL) star Marouane Fellaini has tested positive for COVID-19, the player's club Shandong Luneng FC confirmed on Sunday.
Fellaini was scheduled to begin pre-season training as was tested on Friday.
The 32-year-old former Manchester United player is the first CSL player to test positive for COVID-19.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Chinna PR star Wu Lei said he feels good in isolation at home and currently has close to no symptoms after the 28-year-old striker tested positive for COVID-19 in Spain on Saturday.
"As you know, I have been infected with COVID-19 and I am now isolating myself at home. I am in good spirits as all the symptoms have virtually disappeared," Wu said in a video released on his social media on Saturday, hours after the Chinese Football Association confirmed his positive test result.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With nearly all of the football world at a coronavirus-induced standstill, pro footballers are being forced to draw on their reserves of discipline – and, in some cases, creativity – to stay in shape.
Core training, improvised backyard circuits and the increasingly popular #StayAtHome juggling challenge are making sure the stars of the show will be ready to shine once more when football makes its eagerly awaited return.
Fill up your protein shaker and join the-AFC,com as we examine how, in ways we couldn’t have expected, football’s coming home.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Zurich: FIFA has confirmed the postponement of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.
FIFA accepted it would not play the new 24-team Club World Cup - scheduled to be held in China PR in June and July of 2021 - after it was announced on Tuesday that the European Championship and Copa America would both be moved to that period.
The two tournaments were postponed by 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, and FIFA president Mr Gianni Infantino had already said in advance of a meeting with the heads of the six continental ruling bodies on Wednesday that he would propose putting back the Club World Cup to later in 2021, or even to 2022 or 2023.
A statement released by FIFA said new dates for the new FIFA Club World Cup would be decided "at a later stage".
Meanwhile, FIFA announced the creation of a working group to deal with the consequences of the pandemic, including on players' contracts and transfers and to deal with the economic impact on the game.
"This exceptional situation requires exceptional measures and decisions. This crisis impacts the entire world and that is why solutions need to take into account the interests of all stakeholders around the world," said Mr Infantino.
The body has pledged to donate US$10 million (9.1 million euros) to the World Health Organisation's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.