Asian Football Confederation (AFC) bosses announced on Sunday (Mar 1) that they have delayed the first-leg knockout matches scheduled in the Middle East this week. The decision came after military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. The postponement affects all three major AFC club tournaments, including the AFC Champions League Elite, the Malaysia-headquartered&nbsp;AFC confirmed.&nbsp;"In light of the developing situation in the Middle East... matches in the West Region, originally scheduled for March 2-3, 2026, will now be rescheduled," it said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur.&nbsp;"The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans," the body added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-cancels-england-lions-vs-pakistan-shaheens-clash-amid-escalating-uae-security-concerns-1772346580397">ECB cancels England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheens clash in Abu Dhabi amid escalating UAE security concerns</a>&nbsp;Games included a scheduled match between Qatar's Al-Duhail and Saudi powerhouse Al-Ahli, according to the AFC schedule.&nbsp;Other Elite round-of-16 games like Dubai-based Shabab AlAhli hosting Iran's Tractor, and Abu Dhabi club Al Wahda versus Al-Ittihad are also affected. Matches played elsewhere in the Asian region will continue as scheduled, the AFC said.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

The affected games include a match between Qatar's Al-Duhail and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli, Dubai's Shabab AlAhli against Iran's Tractor and Abu Dhabi's Al Wahda versus Al-Ittihad.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) bosses announced on Sunday (Mar 1) that they have delayed the first-leg knockout matches scheduled in the Middle East this week. The decision came after military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. The postponement affects all three major AFC club tournaments, including the AFC Champions League Elite, the Malaysia-headquartered AFC confirmed. "In light of the developing situation in the Middle East... matches in the West Region, originally scheduled for March 2-3, 2026, will now be rescheduled," it said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur. "The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans," the body added. Also Read - ECB cancels England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheens clash in Abu Dhabi amid escalating UAE security concerns Games included a scheduled match between Qatar's Al-Duhail and Saudi powerhouse Al-Ahli, according to the AFC schedule. Other Elite round-of-16 games like Dubai-based Shabab AlAhli hosting Iran's Tractor, and Abu Dhabi club Al Wahda versus Al-Ittihad are also affected. Matches played elsewhere in the Asian region will continue as scheduled, the AFC said. With inputs from agencies

The affected games include a match between Qatar's Al-Duhail and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli, Dubai's Shabab AlAhli against Iran's Tractor and Abu Dhabi's Al Wahda versus Al-Ittihad.

AFC postpones first-leg knockout matches after US, Israel strikes

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giant from all its competitions and fined the club for more than $100,000 after it refused to play a match in Iran. The club did not travel for its Asian Champions League Two group match against Sepahan in September, citing that they do not receive proper security guarantees or medical insurance coverage. In a statement released on Wednesday, the AFC said its disciplinary and ethics committee has banned Mohun Bagan from the next edition of the competition, with the ban lasting until the 2027-28 season.&nbsp;One of Asia’s oldest football clubs, Mohun Bagan, was also fined for $50,000 and ordered to pay an additional $50,729 to cover the losses faced by the AFC and Sepahan.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-names-india-as-worst-doping-offender-for-third-straight-year-here-s-what-number-say-1766124197134">WADA names India as worst doping offender for third straight year, here's what number say</a>&nbsp;After the team failed to show up in the competition, the AFC removed Mohun Bagan from the tournament and cancelled all their match results.&nbsp;Earlier, the club had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to move the match to a neutral location, but the request was turned down.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The players decided they can’t take this risk, where lives and their families’ future are at stake. So we have to stand with them,” a senior Mohun Bagan official told the Reuters news agency.&nbsp;“Mohun Bagan have five players from Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom, countries that have advised their citizens against travel to Iran,” the official added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/clashes-after-colombia-football-final-leaves-59-injured-1766078822087">Clashes after Nacional vs Independiente final leaves 59 injured - WATCH</a>&nbsp;The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has banned Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giant from all its competitions and fined the club for more than $100,000 after it refused to play a match in Iran. The club did not travel for its Asian Champions League Two group match against Sepahan in September, citing that they do not receive proper security guarantees or medical insurance coverage. In a statement released on Wednesday, the AFC said its disciplinary and ethics committee has banned Mohun Bagan from the next edition of the competition, with the ban lasting until the 2027-28 season. One of Asia’s oldest football clubs, Mohun Bagan, was also fined for $50,000 and ordered to pay an additional $50,729 to cover the losses faced by the AFC and Sepahan. Also Read - WADA names India as worst doping offender for third straight year, here's what number say After the team failed to show up in the competition, the AFC removed Mohun Bagan from the tournament and cancelled all their match results. Earlier, the club had asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to move the match to a neutral location, but the request was turned down. “The players decided they can’t take this risk, where lives and their families’ future are at stake. So we have to stand with them,” a senior Mohun Bagan official told the Reuters news agency. “Mohun Bagan have five players from Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom, countries that have advised their citizens against travel to Iran,” the official added. Also Read - Clashes after Nacional vs Independiente final leaves 59 injured - WATCH The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament. With inputs from agencies

The Indian club had also skipped a match in Iran last year against Tractor SC, scheduled for Oct 2, 2024, following Iran’s ballistic missiles launch towards Israel. As a result, they were withdrawn from the tournament.

AFC bans India's Mohun Bagan, imposes fine after club declines Iran fixture

The Asian Football Confederation said Thursday it was investigating a mass brawl involving two teams in the AFC Champions League. Punches were thrown and the benches of both sides got involved when Wednesday's encounter between China's Zhejiang and away side Buriram United of Thailand descended into violence.

It was unclear what sparked it, but the chaotic scene erupted shortly after the final whistle of Zhejiang's bad-tempered 3-2 victory. "The AFC underlines the importance of fair play, mutual respect and sportsmanship, and takes a zero tolerance approach towards all acts of violence which threaten the physical integrity of players and officials," the Asian Football Confederation said in a statement.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/global-warming-threatens-winter-olympics-future-organisers-soften-demand-in-order-to-retain-potential-hosts-664681">Global warming threatens Winter Olympics future, organisers soften demand in order to retain potential hosts</a>

"The AFC is investigating the incident(s) but does not comment on ongoing disciplinary affairs, which are matters for the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and its secretariat to consider." AFC general secretary Windsor John told AFP that they were waiting for reports from the referee and match commissioner.

Multiple punches and kicks were exchanged between the two teams and at least two players ended up on the floor. One grabbed an opponent in a headlock. Security personnel raced onto the pitch at Huzhou Olympic Sports Center to restore order.

The bad blood extended into Thursday and the official Instagram account of the Thai team posted pictures of one of their players cowering on the ground. The caption read: "Is it AFC Champions League? Come to play football or come to the battlefield." Buriram also posted a photograph of what appeared to be a home fan hurling something from the stands.

The Asian Football Confederation said Thursday it was investigating a mass brawl involving two teams in the AFC Champions League. Punches were thrown and the benches of both sides got involved when Wednesday's encounter between China's Zhejiang and away side Buriram United of Thailand descended into violence.

The Asian Football Confederation said Thursday it was investigating a mass brawl involving two teams in the AFC Champions League. Punches were thrown and the benches of both sides got involved when Wednesday's encounter between China's Zhejiang and away side Buriram United of Thailand descended into violence. It was unclear what sparked it, but the chaotic scene erupted shortly after the final whistle of Zhejiang's bad-tempered 3-2 victory. "The AFC underlines the importance of fair play, mutual respect and sportsmanship, and takes a zero tolerance approach towards all acts of violence which threaten the physical integrity of players and officials," the Asian Football Confederation said in a statement. Also Read: Global warming threatens Winter Olympics future, organisers soften demand in order to retain potential hosts "The AFC is investigating the incident(s) but does not comment on ongoing disciplinary affairs, which are matters for the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee and its secretariat to consider." AFC general secretary Windsor John told AFP that they were waiting for reports from the referee and match commissioner. Multiple punches and kicks were exchanged between the two teams and at least two players ended up on the floor. One grabbed an opponent in a headlock. Security personnel raced onto the pitch at Huzhou Olympic Sports Center to restore order. The bad blood extended into Thursday and the official Instagram account of the Thai team posted pictures of one of their players cowering on the ground. The caption read: "Is it AFC Champions League? Come to play football or come to the battlefield." Buriram also posted a photograph of what appeared to be a home fan hurling something from the stands.

AFC to impose heavy penalty after match between Zhejiang and Buriram United

Iran is set to execute 26-year-old footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani. He has been charged with "waging war against god." Current and former players are asking for leniency.

WION Fineprint | Iran to execute footballer

The ruling could not have been more clear.

One of soccer’s six regional bodies had engaged in discriminatory behavior against a female official by hindering her chances of getting a seat on its board and a leadership position with the sport’s global governing body, FIFA.

The official, Mariyam Mohamed, also convinced judges at sports’ top court that an influential Kuwaiti sheikh had actively interfered in elections held by the Asian Football Confederation in 2019 to achieve his desired outcome.

The full ruling, which has not been published, was obtained by The New York Times. In it, a panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland concluded that the inaction by Asian soccer officials over several months amounted to a “denial of justice” for Mohamed. Yet two months since the decision was announced, the effect of what appears to be a powerful denunciation of ethics breaches and a disregard for women’s rights has had all the effect of a snowball hitting a tank.

Nothing has happened.

The tainted elections will not be rerun. The men who offered Mohamed inducements to drop out have not been punished. And soccer’s leaders have taken no action.

FIFA said in an email it had no comment, even though it previously insisted it would follow up on the court’s findings with soccer officials in Asia. Asian soccer’s governing body also declined to comment, saying its leaders had nothing to add to a January statement in which they had pledged the organization would review the findings.

For Mohamed, the silence has been maddening.

“It’s just a game for them, justice denial, the same process that I was in,” she said in a phone interview. “They’re waiting for time to pass by, and hoping I get fed up. Now the verdict has come, and it’s just very sad. I don’t know where else to go now.”

Mohamed, who filed her complaints to the Asian federation’s disciplinary department in May 2019, says she initially celebrated the ruling, but came to realize it may amount to a Pyrrhic victory.

She has not been contacted by officials from the AFC, she said. Nor has she heard from ethics investigators from FIFA, even though the organization’s rules state that gender discrimination is “strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.”

The case and its aftermath have highlighted how power works in global sports. It shows how a tainted Gulf royal linked to other cases of corruption has been able to exert significant control over one of soccer’s largest governing bodies even though he has no official role in its affairs. And it shows how a strategy of delay can be its own kind of injustice.

Mohamed’s case had roots in FIFA’s response to its own problems with discrimination: To address a lack of women on its governing board, the organization since 2013 set aside specific seats for women, starting with one voting member in 2013 and now a minimum of one from each of FIFA’s six regional confederations.

Mohamed, a former soccer player and coach from the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, had hoped to win the AFC’s spot in a vote in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in April 2019. It did not take her long to realize that the power brokers of Asian soccer had already decided the election’s outcome.

She filed her first complaints about the election to the Asian confederation’s disciplinary department a month later. Emails show the organization responded to her inquiries by insisting it had begun an investigation, although it appears little was done. The AFC, citing confidentiality, refused to supply any evidence of its investigation to the court.

At a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last July, the AFC hardly put up a defense. Its lawyers offered no witnesses to challenge Mohamed’s testimony that a top confederation official and the head of the soccer federation of Qatar had been present in a luxury hotel suite when the Kuwaiti sheikh, Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, told Mohamed he had decided that his preferred candidate, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron of Bangladesh, would be elected as the AFC’s female representative to the FIFA Council.

Mohamed was told she should drop her candidacy, and do so within 24 hours. She later claimed, in testimony that went unchallenged by the AFC, that Sheikh Ahmad attempted to mollify her by saying he had so much sway in international soccer circles that he could obtain for her “any other position of her choosing at the AFC or FIFA” in exchange for her withdrawal.

By this point, Sheikh Ahmad had no official role in soccer, having resigned his position on the FIFA Council in 2017 after allegations emerged in a U.S. federal court that he had bribed Asian officials. But Mohamed’s decision to take her case to court provided a rare public glimpse into his continuing stature as a power broker in global sports through his role as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia, an organization created by his father in 1982.

At a 2013 International Olympic Committee meeting, for example, Sheikh Ahmad’s support helped Thomas Bach secure the IOC presidency and also deliver the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo. Since he was indicted in a forgery case unrelated to sports in 2018, he has “self-suspended” from two prominent Olympic roles. But his opinion still carries weight.

Before the AFC’s 2019 elections, his legal troubles did not seem to be an issue. A list of his favored candidates was distributed to AFC voters on the eve of the elections and, aware of the talks with Mohamed and of Sheikh Ahmad’s preference for a different candidate, the leaders of several federations pressured Mohamed to drop out, she said. She declined to withdraw, and lost the vote, 31-15. Every candidate on Sheikh Ahmad’s list, however, was elected to seats on the AFC’s executive board or, as in Kiron’s case, as a confederation representative to FIFA.

After reviewing the evidence presented by Mohamed and her lawyers, the CAS panel made clear in the summary of its decision that it agreed with her version of the events. The panel confirmed that the 2019 elections had breached FIFA and AFC rules on gender discrimination. It concluded that Sheikh Ahmad had tried to influence the outcome, and that the AFC had denied Mohamed justice by not making a ruling on her complaint. It did, however, also say that by not bowing out of the elections, Mohamed ensured the sheikh’s efforts to influence the election in her case were not effective.

But the court said it was powerless to order that the flawed elections be annulled, or to punish any of the individuals accused of interfering with them. Any decision on further action was for FIFA, and the AFC, to decide, the court said.

Because of the rules governing the court, the panel’s full findings have been cloaked in secrecy since the verdict was announced on Jan. 25.

“If nothing happens it is a disgrace for FIFA, the AFC, and undermines the authority of CAS indirectly,” said Miguel Maduro, the former FIFA governance head who gave evidence in Mohamed’s case. “This award and what follows tells us at once that CAS has exposed corruption at the highest level of elections in football and at the same time tells us they cannot do anything about it.”

Maduro added that at the very least, FIFA should have initiated an ethics inquiry after the ruling. To date, it has not.

Such a move, though, would be extremely sensitive for soccer’s global leadership. The FIFA official responsible for overseeing the 2019 election, Eduardo Ache, told the CAS panel that soccer’s guidelines to improve female representation were mere recommendations. The panel said Ache’s evidence suggested he was “prepared to accept any discrimination provided at least one woman was elected to FIFA.”

But pressing for discipline in the case also could be uncomfortable for FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, who relies on the support of national and regional soccer leaders to push his agenda. He recently spent two weeks touring Africa, for example, to ensure that his favored candidate, a South African billionaire with no high-level experience in soccer administration, was elected president of the continent’s regional confederation. And he is unlikely to press for discipline against the leader of Qatar’s soccer federation — reportedly present when Mohamed was offered inducements to step aside — or any other Asian leader a year before Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup.

The longer the full ruling in Mohamed’s case goes unpublished, though, the more it will give the appearance soccer’s leaders are trying to brush a problematic situation under the carpet, said Johan Lindholm, a professor of law at Umea University in Sweden who has published a book on CAS.

“Whether it’s because of bad PR or there are other things going on, then you would probably want to keep it as secret as possible,” Lindholm said.

The ruling could not have been more clear. One of soccer’s six regional bodies had engaged in discriminatory behavior against a female official by hindering her chances of getting a seat on its board and a leadership position with the sport’s global governing body, FIFA.

The ruling could not have been more clear. One of soccer’s six regional bodies had engaged in discriminatory behavior against a female official by hindering her chances of getting a seat on its board and a leadership position with the sport’s global governing body, FIFA. The official, Mariyam Mohamed, also convinced judges at sports’ top court that an influential Kuwaiti sheikh had actively interfered in elections held by the Asian Football Confederation in 2019 to achieve his desired outcome. The full ruling, which has not been published, was obtained by The New York Times. In it, a panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland concluded that the inaction by Asian soccer officials over several months amounted to a “denial of justice” for Mohamed. Yet two months since the decision was announced, the effect of what appears to be a powerful denunciation of ethics breaches and a disregard for women’s rights has had all the effect of a snowball hitting a tank. Nothing has happened. The tainted elections will not be rerun. The men who offered Mohamed inducements to drop out have not been punished. And soccer’s leaders have taken no action. FIFA said in an email it had no comment, even though it previously insisted it would follow up on the court’s findings with soccer officials in Asia. Asian soccer’s governing body also declined to comment, saying its leaders had nothing to add to a January statement in which they had pledged the organization would review the findings. For Mohamed, the silence has been maddening. “It’s just a game for them, justice denial, the same process that I was in,” she said in a phone interview. “They’re waiting for time to pass by, and hoping I get fed up. Now the verdict has come, and it’s just very sad. I don’t know where else to go now.” Mohamed, who filed her complaints to the Asian federation’s disciplinary department in May 2019, says she initially celebrated the ruling, but came to realize it may amount to a Pyrrhic victory. She has not been contacted by officials from the AFC, she said. Nor has she heard from ethics investigators from FIFA, even though the organization’s rules state that gender discrimination is “strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion.” The case and its aftermath have highlighted how power works in global sports. It shows how a tainted Gulf royal linked to other cases of corruption has been able to exert significant control over one of soccer’s largest governing bodies even though he has no official role in its affairs. And it shows how a strategy of delay can be its own kind of injustice. Mohamed’s case had roots in FIFA’s response to its own problems with discrimination: To address a lack of women on its governing board, the organization since 2013 set aside specific seats for women, starting with one voting member in 2013 and now a minimum of one from each of FIFA’s six regional confederations. Mohamed, a former soccer player and coach from the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, had hoped to win the AFC’s spot in a vote in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in April 2019. It did not take her long to realize that the power brokers of Asian soccer had already decided the election’s outcome. She filed her first complaints about the election to the Asian confederation’s disciplinary department a month later. Emails show the organization responded to her inquiries by insisting it had begun an investigation, although it appears little was done. The AFC, citing confidentiality, refused to supply any evidence of its investigation to the court. At a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport last July, the AFC hardly put up a defense. Its lawyers offered no witnesses to challenge Mohamed’s testimony that a top confederation official and the head of the soccer federation of Qatar had been present in a luxury hotel suite when the Kuwaiti sheikh, Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, told Mohamed he had decided that his preferred candidate, Mahfuza Akhter Kiron of Bangladesh, would be elected as the AFC’s female representative to the FIFA Council. Mohamed was told she should drop her candidacy, and do so within 24 hours. She later claimed, in testimony that went unchallenged by the AFC, that Sheikh Ahmad attempted to mollify her by saying he had so much sway in international soccer circles that he could obtain for her “any other position of her choosing at the AFC or FIFA” in exchange for her withdrawal. By this point, Sheikh Ahmad had no official role in soccer, having resigned his position on the FIFA Council in 2017 after allegations emerged in a U.S. federal court that he had bribed Asian officials. But Mohamed’s decision to take her case to court provided a rare public glimpse into his continuing stature as a power broker in global sports through his role as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia, an organization created by his father in 1982. At a 2013 International Olympic Committee meeting, for example, Sheikh Ahmad’s support helped Thomas Bach secure the IOC presidency and also deliver the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo. Since he was indicted in a forgery case unrelated to sports in 2018, he has “self-suspended” from two prominent Olympic roles. But his opinion still carries weight. Before the AFC’s 2019 elections, his legal troubles did not seem to be an issue. A list of his favored candidates was distributed to AFC voters on the eve of the elections and, aware of the talks with Mohamed and of Sheikh Ahmad’s preference for a different candidate, the leaders of several federations pressured Mohamed to drop out, she said. She declined to withdraw, and lost the vote, 31-15. Every candidate on Sheikh Ahmad’s list, however, was elected to seats on the AFC’s executive board or, as in Kiron’s case, as a confederation representative to FIFA. After reviewing the evidence presented by Mohamed and her lawyers, the CAS panel made clear in the summary of its decision that it agreed with her version of the events. The panel confirmed that the 2019 elections had breached FIFA and AFC rules on gender discrimination. It concluded that Sheikh Ahmad had tried to influence the outcome, and that the AFC had denied Mohamed justice by not making a ruling on her complaint. It did, however, also say that by not bowing out of the elections, Mohamed ensured the sheikh’s efforts to influence the election in her case were not effective. But the court said it was powerless to order that the flawed elections be annulled, or to punish any of the individuals accused of interfering with them. Any decision on further action was for FIFA, and the AFC, to decide, the court said. Because of the rules governing the court, the panel’s full findings have been cloaked in secrecy since the verdict was announced on Jan. 25. “If nothing happens it is a disgrace for FIFA, the AFC, and undermines the authority of CAS indirectly,” said Miguel Maduro, the former FIFA governance head who gave evidence in Mohamed’s case. “This award and what follows tells us at once that CAS has exposed corruption at the highest level of elections in football and at the same time tells us they cannot do anything about it.” Maduro added that at the very least, FIFA should have initiated an ethics inquiry after the ruling. To date, it has not. Such a move, though, would be extremely sensitive for soccer’s global leadership. The FIFA official responsible for overseeing the 2019 election, Eduardo Ache, told the CAS panel that soccer’s guidelines to improve female representation were mere recommendations. The panel said Ache’s evidence suggested he was “prepared to accept any discrimination provided at least one woman was elected to FIFA.” But pressing for discipline in the case also could be uncomfortable for FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, who relies on the support of national and regional soccer leaders to push his agenda. He recently spent two weeks touring Africa, for example, to ensure that his favored candidate, a South African billionaire with no high-level experience in soccer administration, was elected president of the continent’s regional confederation. And he is unlikely to press for discipline against the leader of Qatar’s soccer federation — reportedly present when Mohamed was offered inducements to step aside — or any other Asian leader a year before Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup. The longer the full ruling in Mohamed’s case goes unpublished, though, the more it will give the appearance soccer’s leaders are trying to brush a problematic situation under the carpet, said Johan Lindholm, a professor of law at Umea University in Sweden who has published a book on CAS. “Whether it’s because of bad PR or there are other things going on, then you would probably want to keep it as secret as possible,” Lindholm said.

A soccer official proved her discrimination case. No one was punished.

The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday the indefinite postponement because of the coronavirus of all matches scheduled for May and June, plunging the AFC Champions League into further disarray.

The region's premier club competition was put on hold in March as the pandemic spread, and the latest reshuffle means the 32-team group stage will have to be completed in July before the already-postponed knock-out rounds start a month later.

"Following the continued preventive measures and travel restrictions put in place by several governments, the Asian Football Confederation has decided today to postpone all matches and competitions scheduled to take place in May and June until further notice," an AFC statement said.

"As one of the first confederations in world football to undertake precautionary measures in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the latest decision reinforces the AFC's commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of players, participating teams, officials, fans and all stakeholders."

Less than two of the six rounds of group-stage matches have been completed so far, meaning the competition will face severe congestion even if it returns in July.

The extended shutdown also affects the two-legged women's Olympic qualifying play-off between China and South Korea, which had already been moved to June 1 and 9.&nbsp;

June qualifiers for the men's 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup had already been postponed.

Football was one of the first sports affected by travel restrictions prompted by the coronavirus, which has now forced the blanket stoppage of professional sporting events worldwide.

The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday the indefinite postponement because of the coronavirus of all matches scheduled for May and June, plunging the AFC Champions League into further disarray.

The Asian Football Confederation announced Tuesday the indefinite postponement because of the coronavirus of all matches scheduled for May and June, plunging the AFC Champions League into further disarray. The region's premier club competition was put on hold in March as the pandemic spread, and the latest reshuffle means the 32-team group stage will have to be completed in July before the already-postponed knock-out rounds start a month later. "Following the continued preventive measures and travel restrictions put in place by several governments, the Asian Football Confederation has decided today to postpone all matches and competitions scheduled to take place in May and June until further notice," an AFC statement said. "As one of the first confederations in world football to undertake precautionary measures in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the latest decision reinforces the AFC's commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of players, participating teams, officials, fans and all stakeholders." Less than two of the six rounds of group-stage matches have been completed so far, meaning the competition will face severe congestion even if it returns in July. The extended shutdown also affects the two-legged women's Olympic qualifying play-off between China and South Korea, which had already been moved to June 1 and 9. June qualifiers for the men's 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup had already been postponed. Football was one of the first sports affected by travel restrictions prompted by the coronavirus, which has now forced the blanket stoppage of professional sporting events worldwide.

Asian football body extends virus shutdown indefinitely

&nbsp;North Korea will play their World Cup qualifier against Lebanon behind closed doors in Beirut on Tuesday due to security concerns, the Asian Football Confederation said, as the country struggles with a wave of protests against its leaders.

An AFC spokesman told Reuters the reason was "same as last week - security concerns".

Last week's qualifier between Lebanon and South Korea was also played in front of an empty stadium following the advice of the local security forces, the AFC said.

The Lebanese protesters blame their leaders for steering the country towards economic collapse. Parliament was unable to hold its first session in two months on Tuesday as the protesters prevented lawmakers from even reaching the building.

Lebanon are tied on seven points with North Korea in Group H of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and either side could go top with a victory on Tuesday.

South Korea, who top Group H with eight points from four matches, were held to a 0-0 draw in Thursday's match in Asia's second round of 2022 World Cup preliminaries.

"The Lebanon Football Association, following the advice of the Lebanese security forces, has decided Tuesday's Asian Qualifiers tie between Lebanon and DPR Korea will be played behind closed doors," the AFC said in a statement.

North Korea will play their World Cup qualifier against Lebanon behind closed doors in Beirut on Tuesday due to security concerns, the Asian Football Confederation said, as the country struggles with a wave of protests against its leaders.

North Korea will play their World Cup qualifier against Lebanon behind closed doors in Beirut on Tuesday due to security concerns, the Asian Football Confederation said, as the country struggles with a wave of protests against its leaders. An AFC spokesman told Reuters the reason was "same as last week - security concerns". Last week's qualifier between Lebanon and South Korea was also played in front of an empty stadium following the advice of the local security forces, the AFC said. The Lebanese protesters blame their leaders for steering the country towards economic collapse. Parliament was unable to hold its first session in two months on Tuesday as the protesters prevented lawmakers from even reaching the building. Lebanon are tied on seven points with North Korea in Group H of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and either side could go top with a victory on Tuesday. South Korea, who top Group H with eight points from four matches, were held to a 0-0 draw in Thursday's match in Asia's second round of 2022 World Cup preliminaries. "The Lebanon Football Association, following the advice of the Lebanese security forces, has decided Tuesday's Asian Qualifiers tie between Lebanon and DPR Korea will be played behind closed doors," the AFC said in a statement.

North Korea to play in Lebanon behind closed doors on security concerns: AFC

When Sahar Khodayari this week set herself alight in front of a Tehran courthouse, she indicted world soccer body FIFA, its Asian regional group, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and their Presidents, Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

Infantino and Al Khalifa have been selective in their support for women’s soccer rights.

Infantino was in the White House to urge US President Donald J Trump to endorse equal pay for male and female players on the same day that FIFA expressed regret at the death of Khodayarí, but did nothing to force Iran to lift its ban on women attending male sporting events.

The statement called on Iranian authorities “To ensure the freedom and safety of any woman engaged in this legitimate fight to end the stadium ban for women in Iran” but failed to exert a price for continued maintenance of the ban.

Dubbed Blue Girl, a reference to the colour of her favourite, storied Tehran soccer team, Esteghlal FC, Khodayari, put herself on fire after hearing by-standers speculate that the Revolutionary Court could that day sentence her to two years in prison for "Openly committing a sinful act by appearing in public without hijab" and "insulting officials."

Khodayari was charged after being stopped by security in March as she sought to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium dressed as a man to watch Esteghlal play an AFC Asian Cup match against the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC.

Khodayari’s disguise is standard practice for activist female soccer fans in a football-crazy country that has the questionable honour of being the world’s only nation to bar women from attending male sporting events.

Saudi Arabia, the only other country that long maintained a similar ban, abolished the restriction in 2017 as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s social reforms.

In a wave of outrage on Twitter under the hashtag #Blue_Girl, Iranian deputy telecommunications minister Amir Nazemi thundered: "The death of #blue_girl is a conviction for all of us."

Mulanim, another tweeter, went a step further, pointing fingers at FIFA. “Sahar Khodayari burnt herself to death in protest. When would you actually do something? @FIFAcom #fifawwc,” she tweeted.

Taken together, the two tweets put the responsibility on the Iranian government for its discrimination of women and on global and regional soccer governors for allowing Iran to get away with it.

FIFA announced this week that it was sending a delegation to Iran to monitor Iranian moves to allow women to attend World Cup qualifying matches.

The problem is that FIFA has exerted punitive pressure only regarding World Cup matches rather than threatening to ban Iran from all international soccer events if it fails to completely lift the ban.

FIFA’s push on World Cup matches could open the door to a complete lifting of the ban. Past experience, however, suggests that Iran could well treat granting women fans access to World Cup matches as an exception that confirms the rule.

FIFA and the AFC are missing an opportunity to potentially force Iran to lift the ban given that barring Iranian participation in international tournaments would add to the government’s woes at a time that it is struggling to dampen the impact of harsh US economic sanctions designed to persuade Iran to renegotiate the 2015 agreement that curbed the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.

The sanctions were imposed last year after Trump withdrew from the agreement.

Speaking to reporters, government spokesman Ali Rabiei suggested that a threat by FIFA to exclude Iran from international matches could push the country’s rulers over the hump.

“The government’s general view is to allow women to enter football stadiums, and infrastructure is needed for women’s presence in stadiums,” Rabiei said.

Khodayari’s self-immolation alongside the refusal by an Iranian judoka to withdraw from the 2019 Judo World Championships in Japan on orders of the government sparked a Twitter hashtag, #BanIRSportsFederations, that this month has been used tens of thousands of times.

Taking the call for a ban on Iranian participation in international tournaments and their qualifiers literally, Ali Karimi, a past Asian footballer of the year and top Iranian player opted to lead the way and set an example for FIFA and the AFC.

Karimi advised his 4.5 million followers on Instagram that he would boycott soccer matches in protest against the ban on women. His post was liked more than 100,000 times in less than 30 minutes.

Amir Etemadi, a liberal activist, seconded Karimi’s decision, Tweeting that “It is time to boycott Iranian sports globally and domestically.”

The , #BanIRSportsFederations hashtag constituted a protest against government interference, a no-no under the rules that govern global sports governance and insist on maintaining a largely fictitious separation of sports and politics.

The online protest was sparked when top-ranking judoka Saeid Mollaei said he feared for his safety because he had rejected a demand to withdraw from the tournament in Japan to avoid the risk of having to face an Israeli athlete.

Mollaei was spared facing the Israeli after being defeated in the semi-final.

Iran extends its refusal to recognise Israel to barring its athletes from competing against Israelis in international tournaments – a violation of rules governing those competitions. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

When Sahar Khodayari this week set herself alight in front of a Tehran courthouse, she indicted world soccer body FIFA, its Asian regional group, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and their Presidents, Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

When Sahar Khodayari this week set herself alight in front of a Tehran courthouse, she indicted world soccer body FIFA, its Asian regional group, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and their Presidents, Gianni Infantino and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. Infantino and Al Khalifa have been selective in their support for women’s soccer rights. Infantino was in the White House to urge US President Donald J Trump to endorse equal pay for male and female players on the same day that FIFA expressed regret at the death of Khodayarí, but did nothing to force Iran to lift its ban on women attending male sporting events. The statement called on Iranian authorities “To ensure the freedom and safety of any woman engaged in this legitimate fight to end the stadium ban for women in Iran” but failed to exert a price for continued maintenance of the ban. Dubbed Blue Girl, a reference to the colour of her favourite, storied Tehran soccer team, Esteghlal FC, Khodayari, put herself on fire after hearing by-standers speculate that the Revolutionary Court could that day sentence her to two years in prison for "Openly committing a sinful act by appearing in public without hijab" and "insulting officials." Khodayari was charged after being stopped by security in March as she sought to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium dressed as a man to watch Esteghlal play an AFC Asian Cup match against the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC. Khodayari’s disguise is standard practice for activist female soccer fans in a football-crazy country that has the questionable honour of being the world’s only nation to bar women from attending male sporting events. Saudi Arabia, the only other country that long maintained a similar ban, abolished the restriction in 2017 as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s social reforms. In a wave of outrage on Twitter under the hashtag #Blue_Girl, Iranian deputy telecommunications minister Amir Nazemi thundered: "The death of #blue_girl is a conviction for all of us." Mulanim, another tweeter, went a step further, pointing fingers at FIFA. “Sahar Khodayari burnt herself to death in protest. When would you actually do something? @FIFAcom #fifawwc,” she tweeted. Taken together, the two tweets put the responsibility on the Iranian government for its discrimination of women and on global and regional soccer governors for allowing Iran to get away with it. FIFA announced this week that it was sending a delegation to Iran to monitor Iranian moves to allow women to attend World Cup qualifying matches. The problem is that FIFA has exerted punitive pressure only regarding World Cup matches rather than threatening to ban Iran from all international soccer events if it fails to completely lift the ban. FIFA’s push on World Cup matches could open the door to a complete lifting of the ban. Past experience, however, suggests that Iran could well treat granting women fans access to World Cup matches as an exception that confirms the rule. FIFA and the AFC are missing an opportunity to potentially force Iran to lift the ban given that barring Iranian participation in international tournaments would add to the government’s woes at a time that it is struggling to dampen the impact of harsh US economic sanctions designed to persuade Iran to renegotiate the 2015 agreement that curbed the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme. The sanctions were imposed last year after Trump withdrew from the agreement. Speaking to reporters, government spokesman Ali Rabiei suggested that a threat by FIFA to exclude Iran from international matches could push the country’s rulers over the hump. “The government’s general view is to allow women to enter football stadiums, and infrastructure is needed for women’s presence in stadiums,” Rabiei said. Khodayari’s self-immolation alongside the refusal by an Iranian judoka to withdraw from the 2019 Judo World Championships in Japan on orders of the government sparked a Twitter hashtag, #BanIRSportsFederations, that this month has been used tens of thousands of times. Taking the call for a ban on Iranian participation in international tournaments and their qualifiers literally, Ali Karimi, a past Asian footballer of the year and top Iranian player opted to lead the way and set an example for FIFA and the AFC. Karimi advised his 4.5 million followers on Instagram that he would boycott soccer matches in protest against the ban on women. His post was liked more than 100,000 times in less than 30 minutes. Amir Etemadi, a liberal activist, seconded Karimi’s decision, Tweeting that “It is time to boycott Iranian sports globally and domestically.” The , #BanIRSportsFederations hashtag constituted a protest against government interference, a no-no under the rules that govern global sports governance and insist on maintaining a largely fictitious separation of sports and politics. The online protest was sparked when top-ranking judoka Saeid Mollaei said he feared for his safety because he had rejected a demand to withdraw from the tournament in Japan to avoid the risk of having to face an Israeli athlete. Mollaei was spared facing the Israeli after being defeated in the semi-final. Iran extends its refusal to recognise Israel to barring its athletes from competing against Israelis in international tournaments – a violation of rules governing those competitions. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Death of female Iran football fan puts FIFA and Asian soccer body in dock

Referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistants Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi are set to make AFC Cup history on Wednesday by becoming the first all-female trio to officiate a match at the tournament.

The three Japanese women will take charge of Yangon United's final Group F match against Cambodia's Naga World after passing a fitness test similar to the one required for male officials, the Asian Football Confederation said.

"This is one of my dreams," said Yamashita, who has officiated at two FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cups.

"We've worked very hard and this is the result. I have to thank the AFC for giving us this opportunity to join the history books in women`s refereeing in Asia",&nbsp;Yamashita said.

Yamashita joins the likes of Stephanie Frappart and Bibiana Steinhaus, who have officiated top-flight men's games in France and Germany, respectively.

The Japanese trio are also part of the AFC's list of 12 Asian match officials who will be at this year's Women's World Cup in France, which starts on June 7.

Assistant referee Teshirogi is hoping the appointment of the all-female refereeing trio inspires more women to officiate men's games.

"More women passed the men's fitness test so that shows how motivated women referees are," she said.

Two more women assistant referees will also be in action at the AFC Cup on Wednesday, with Kim Kyoung-min and Lee Seul-gi set to assist male referee Kim Dae-yong when Ceres Negros host Becamex Binh Duong.

Referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistants Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi are set to make AFC Cup history on Wednesday by becoming the first all-female trio to officiate a match at the tournament.

Referee Yoshimi Yamashita and assistants Makoto Bozono and Naomi Teshirogi are set to make AFC Cup history on Wednesday by becoming the first all-female trio to officiate a match at the tournament. The three Japanese women will take charge of Yangon United's final Group F match against Cambodia's Naga World after passing a fitness test similar to the one required for male officials, the Asian Football Confederation said. "This is one of my dreams," said Yamashita, who has officiated at two FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cups. "We've worked very hard and this is the result. I have to thank the AFC for giving us this opportunity to join the history books in women`s refereeing in Asia", Yamashita said. Yamashita joins the likes of Stephanie Frappart and Bibiana Steinhaus, who have officiated top-flight men's games in France and Germany, respectively. The Japanese trio are also part of the AFC's list of 12 Asian match officials who will be at this year's Women's World Cup in France, which starts on June 7. Assistant referee Teshirogi is hoping the appointment of the all-female refereeing trio inspires more women to officiate men's games. "More women passed the men's fitness test so that shows how motivated women referees are," she said. Two more women assistant referees will also be in action at the AFC Cup on Wednesday, with Kim Kyoung-min and Lee Seul-gi set to assist male referee Kim Dae-yong when Ceres Negros host Becamex Binh Duong.

First all-female trio set to officiate Asian Football Confederation Cup game

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup.&nbsp;

The Asian Football Confederation's continental showpiece, which has seen an increase in the number of finalists from 16 to 24, kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in a Group A fixture at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.

India, placed in the same group as the host nation, will begin their campaign with a game against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, the home ground of Al Wahda club, on Sunday.

The Blue Tigers last participated in the tournament eight years ago, which ended with a forgettable group stage exit following heavy defeats at the hands regional powerhouses Australia, South Korea and Bahrain.

The 17th edition of the quadrennial event will be India's fourth-ever appearance. While they brought to an end a 24-year wait by making the 2011 edition, India missed qualification to the 2015 tournament, which was won by hosts Australia.

Though not as dominant as the Koreans or the Australians, India will still have their task cut out against well-oiled teams such as Bahrain, Thailand and UAE.

While speculation can be a futile exercise, an unbeaten run of 13 matches, during which the country qualified for the tournament and achieved its second best ranking in the FIFA chart, gives chief coach Stephen Constantine reasons to be optimistic.

India are currently ranked 97th, a far cry from the day a few years ago when they slipped to their worst-ever 173rd position.

India also endured the humiliation of losing to Guam, a tiny Pacific island with a population of 1.5 lakh, in a World Cup Qualifier.

The revival began after that as India, under Constantine and the talismanic Sunil Chhetri's prolific form in front of the goal learned to win matches.

India were the first among 23 visiting teams to arrive in the UAE capital on December 20. A 28-member squad had been practicing in an effort to acclimatise themselves to the conditions.

The Asian Cup will be a different ball game, and the team is aware of that.

"We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," Constantine said ahead of the tournament.

Bidding to defend the title won on home soil in 2015, Australia come into the tournament as one of the contenders after head coach Graham Arnold put his players through the grind.

They will be entering a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak.

Neighbours South Korea and Japan will resume their rivalry with both teams having their eyes trained at the trophy. Led by free-scoring Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, favourites South Korea will fancy their chances of ending more than 50 years of wait.

Japan, having given the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Belgium a run for their money in a Round of 16 games in Russia, have the team to go all the way in the UAE.

Iraq, who won the tournament in 2007 and finished among the last four years ago, will be another to watch out for.

Apart from their impressive results in recent times, including against Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman, raising India's hopes is the provision of the four best third-placed teams also making it to the next round.

Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup triumph in 2006, has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the tournament.&nbsp;

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup.

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation's continental showpiece, which has seen an increase in the number of finalists from 16 to 24, kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in a Group A fixture at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. India, placed in the same group as the host nation, will begin their campaign with a game against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, the home ground of Al Wahda club, on Sunday. The Blue Tigers last participated in the tournament eight years ago, which ended with a forgettable group stage exit following heavy defeats at the hands regional powerhouses Australia, South Korea and Bahrain. The 17th edition of the quadrennial event will be India's fourth-ever appearance. While they brought to an end a 24-year wait by making the 2011 edition, India missed qualification to the 2015 tournament, which was won by hosts Australia. Though not as dominant as the Koreans or the Australians, India will still have their task cut out against well-oiled teams such as Bahrain, Thailand and UAE. While speculation can be a futile exercise, an unbeaten run of 13 matches, during which the country qualified for the tournament and achieved its second best ranking in the FIFA chart, gives chief coach Stephen Constantine reasons to be optimistic. India are currently ranked 97th, a far cry from the day a few years ago when they slipped to their worst-ever 173rd position. India also endured the humiliation of losing to Guam, a tiny Pacific island with a population of 1.5 lakh, in a World Cup Qualifier. The revival began after that as India, under Constantine and the talismanic Sunil Chhetri's prolific form in front of the goal learned to win matches. India were the first among 23 visiting teams to arrive in the UAE capital on December 20. A 28-member squad had been practicing in an effort to acclimatise themselves to the conditions. The Asian Cup will be a different ball game, and the team is aware of that. "We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," Constantine said ahead of the tournament. Bidding to defend the title won on home soil in 2015, Australia come into the tournament as one of the contenders after head coach Graham Arnold put his players through the grind. They will be entering a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak. Neighbours South Korea and Japan will resume their rivalry with both teams having their eyes trained at the trophy. Led by free-scoring Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, favourites South Korea will fancy their chances of ending more than 50 years of wait. Japan, having given the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Belgium a run for their money in a Round of 16 games in Russia, have the team to go all the way in the UAE. Iraq, who won the tournament in 2007 and finished among the last four years ago, will be another to watch out for. Apart from their impressive results in recent times, including against Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman, raising India's hopes is the provision of the four best third-placed teams also making it to the next round. Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup triumph in 2006, has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the tournament.

Asian Cup 2019: Tournament starts today, India begin campaign on Day 2