Kuala Lumpur : The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken note of the Chinese Football Association (CFA)’s confirmation of Changchun Yatai FC’s withdrawal from participating in AFC Champions League 2022.
Changchun Yatai, was just promoted back to the Chinese Super League in the season 2021 before making a surprise appearance by clinching the championship zone in regular season. and finished 4th in the championship stage Successfully grabbed the play-off quota in the AFC Champions League 2022.
As for the reason that Changchun Yatai withdrew from the competition. Due to the problem of Chinese public health measures To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which requires at least 21 days of quarantine if returning to China. And if there are players infected with COVID-19, it will result in the whole team unable to travel back to the country. They also have to wait for documents to confirm their return to the country longer than usual.
Therefore, in accordance with the AFC Champions League 2022™ Competition Regulations, the Playoff Stage match between Changchun Yatai FC and the winners of the Preliminary Stage tie between Australia’s Sydney FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines, which was scheduled to take place on March 15, 2022, has been cancelled.
Consequently, the winners of the Sydney FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo Preliminary Stage tie on March 8, 2022, will receive a direct entry into Group H, where they will face two-time winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from Korea Republic, Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos and Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
The centralised matches for Group H are scheduled to be contested in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, from April 15 to May 1.
Credit Photo : 网观天下