Australian sides pull out of AFC Champions League after schedule rejig due to COVID-19
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the withdrawals, but did not give any explanation.
Representational image
Australian sides Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar have pulled out of the Asian Champions League, organisers said Friday, after an A-League overhaul caused scheduling clashes.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the withdrawals, but did not give any explanation.
However it came hours after the A-League said its finals schedule had been rejigged to run from 11-26 June, because of coronavirus restrictions prompted by an outbreak in Victoria state.
Brisbane were due to face Philippine team Kaya FC-Iloilo on 20 June in the Champions League preliminary round, and Melbourne were to play Japan's Cerezo Osaka the following day.
Sydney had a group stage match against South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors scheduled for June 26.
also read
AFC Cup: Liston Colaco hat-trick scripts ATK Mohun Bagan revival; Maziya also remain in hunt
Liston Colaco scored a stunning hat-trick to help ATK Mohun Bagan rout Bashundhara Kings of Bangladesh 4-0 and keep their inter-zone semifinal hopes alive.
AFC Cup: I-League champions Gokulam Kerala stun ATK Mohun Bagan 4-2 on tournament debut
In a battle between the two heavyweights of the top-tier ISL and the second-tier I-League, Gokulam Kerala dished out a much more compact and technical display than Bagan.
China withdraw from hosting the 2023 AFC Asian Cup due to COVID-19 pandemic
China have relinquished the right to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023 finals due to the COVID-19 situation in the country.