Defending champion Al-Hilal was forced to withdraw from the Asian Champions League on Wednesday after not being able to box an entire team due to a coronavirus outbreak.
The Saudi team suffered 31 infections of players and officials from the organizational level of the first Asian club competition, and was only able to summon nine beginner players and two replacement goalkeepers for the last Group B match against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.
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Tournament regulations stipulate that UN groups to box thirteen players will lose all matches, meaning that Al-Hilal, who had already secured a position in the circular of 16 due to previous results, will not protect their title.
“All matches played through Al Hilal, which has designated only 11 players, are considered null and void under article 6 of the AFC Champions League rules and, therefore, Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai complete the 16th circular in Group B,” the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a statement Wednesday night.
Al-Hilal called for the adjustment to be postponed to allow players to recover.
“We have 11 players before the game, adding 3 goalkeepers,” said Al-Hilal coach Roman Lazvan. “In Europe, there are transparent orders to cancel or postpone matches in such circumstances. “
The request denied.
According to the AFC, “a postponement would have a massive negative effect on the current schedule of AFC Champions League (West) matches and no exceptions have been granted. “
The festival was postponed in March, but the western part of the continent resumed play this month, however, a new epidemic prevented Al-Wahda from the United Arab Emirates from traveling to Qatar, a regional center and party venue in the western part.
The East Zone restarts on November 15. The final between the winners of the two zones is scheduled for December 19.
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