ast year’s AFC Champions
League ended badly for East
Asia with the title going to a
team from the west of the
continent, Al Hilal of Saudi
Arabia, for only the second time
since 2005. That, however, is nothing compared to
how the 2020 version has started for the region.
Due to the coronavirus that originated in the
Chinese city of Wuhan in December and spread
around the country and elsewhere, the four Chinese
teams were conspicuous by their absence when
the continental tournament kicked off in February,
with Shanghai Shenhua, Guangzhou Evergrande,
Shanghai SIPG and Beijing Guoan all on extended
training camps following the postponement of the
Chinese Super League, which had been due to start
on February 22.
While the Chinese FA has just one country to
worry about, the Asian Football Confederation has
been working hard to try to keep the Champions
League going.
As the virus started to make headlines, Shanghai
SIPG’s play-off qualifier at home to Buriram United
was played behind closed doors, despite requests
from the Thai club for a switch to a neutral country.
On the scoresheet in SIPG’s 3-0 win was Austrian
striker Marko Arnautovic, who has looked good
in pre-season after struggling during his first few
months in China following a big-money move last
summer from West Ham United.
The next day, as the virus situation grew more
serious, the AFC told Chinese clubs that their first
three group games would be played away from
home in the hope that, by match day four in April,
the situation would be under control.
However, the day after that, with Shanghai SIPG
and Shanghai Shenhua due to head to Australia
to face Sydney and Perth Glory respectively in
the opening round of games, this solution was
already impossible. The Australian government
announced that flights from the Chinese mainland
would not be allowed to enter the country and that
was that. Shortly afterwards, Thailand said the same.
An emergency meeting was held in KualaChinese
football in
lockdown
Coronavirus wreaks havoc
with sporting calendar
Lumpur with officials from Australia, China and
elsewhere trying to find a solution. In the end it
was announced that the first three games involving
Chinese teams in all four of the eastern groups – the
tournament is divided into east and west geographic
zones until the Final – would be postponed.
Games involving teams from South Korea, Australia,
Japan, Thailand and Malaysia would go ahead, but the
games involving Chinese teams would be rescheduled
for April and May. The second round, which is a
knockout stage featuring 16 teams, is a two-leg affair
and is due to start in June. The AFC has its fingers
crossed that this will go ahead as normal.
AFC general-secretary Windsor John says: “We came
together in difficult circumstances to find solutions to
allow us to play football while ensuring we protect the
safety and security of all players, officials, stakeholders
and fans. We also accept that this coronavirus is aImpressive...
Shanghai SIPG’s
Marko Arnautovic
beats the Buriram
United goalkeeper“This coronavirus is
a much bigger issue
than just football”
AFC general-secretary Windsor JohnL
AFC Champions League
JOHN DUERDENProtection...medical team at Shanghai
SIPG’s game against Buriram United