KUALA LUMPUR: Matches involving Chinese clubs in the AFC Champions League East bave all been postponed after an emergency meeting in Kuala Lumpur involving representatives of the six relevant member associations.

The Asian confederation also decided that if matches scheduled for Chinese teams can be played as per the schedule then they will go ahead as planned.

This means that Thailand’s Chiangrai United’s match with Beijing will go ahead on February 18 but only because Beijing are currently in camp in South Korea and may not need quarantine measures.

Chiangrai will continue to work closely with the Thai Government and medical officials to monitor the situation.

An AFC statement said:

“The AFC will continue to closely evaluate the impact of the outbreak but it is proposed that the postponed matches involving clubs from China PR will be re-scheduled in April and May 2020. The East Zone Round of 16 matches are proposed for June 16 and 17 with the return leg on June 23 or 24.

“However, the representatives agreed that a deadline to assess the latest situation will be set 21 days before each match and if it is decided the game cannot go-ahead as proposed, the host club will have to nominate a neutral venue at least 14 days before the match day.

Earlier, on January 29, 2020, the original match schedule was altered by the AFC so that the Chinese clubs could play away in the first three match days but subsequently some Governments, including Australia, have introduced restrictions which made it impossible for Chinese clubs to travel to play the re-arranged matches.”

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