Doha: Qatar will host the cream of Asian football when it hosts the leading sides from the East Zone of the continent in the AFC Champions League (ACL), the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced yesterday. 

After successfully hosting the AFC Champions League West Zone tournament from September 14 to October 3, the AFC had asked for Qatar’s help to provide a bio-safe environment for teams from the East Zone in order to complete their matches – which were curtailed in March by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Qatar agreed to host the matches in order to support Asia’s premier club competition and ensure it could be completed as close to the original schedule as possible. 

Sixteen teams from six countries will take part in the East Zone tournament from November 18 to December 13, with matches taking places in four stadiums.

The teams and officials who travel to Qatar for the tournament will adhere to a strict health and safety framework to ensure the safe participation of players, officials and members of the Local Organising Committee. During the West Zone tournament, Qatar carried out more than 7,900 COVID-19 tests in an effort to detect cases as early as possible, with the positive rate being only 1.7%. 

The General Secretary of QFA, Mansoor Al Ansari, said: “We are very happy to provide a safe environment for the AFC in order to complete the AFC Champions League and look forward to hosting the leading clubs from the east of the region during November and December. Qatar knows how important football is to Asia so is pleased to be able to offer the world-class sporting infrastructure and operational health and safety expertise that exists in the country to allow for the resumption of competitive continental football once again.”

The AFC yesterday expressed its appreciation for the QFA’s support in ensuring the success of the 2020 AFC Champions League.

“Everything from the arrival of the teams, the efficient immigration process, the rigorous health screenings, hotels with biosecurity measures, to the state-of-the-art training facilities and stadiums were of the highest possible standard as the AFC insisted that the welfare and well-being of the players, officials and match officials was our top priority,” AFC General-Secretary Dato Windsor John said.

“We recognize the huge amount of work undertaken by the QFA, in conjunction with the AFC, the Qatar Local Authorities and Ministries, to ensure the smooth delivery of the AFC Champions League (West) and we look forward to a similarly positive collaboration for the AFC Champions League (East),” he added.

Four clubs from both China and the Korea Republic will compete in the competition, along with three from Australia, three from Japan and one each from Malaysia and Thailand.

All team members and visitors will be tested upon arrival and throughout the tournament, while all venues will be disinfected regularly, including training and media facilities. Medical staff will be stationed in stadiums throughout the competition to ensure all health and safety are strictly followed.

SOURCE: THEPENINSULAQATAR