Asian Champions League ties postponed by war moved to Saudi
AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa (L) presents Saudi Arabia's Minister of Sports and Youth Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal al-Saud (C) with a plaque, appointing Saudi Arabi aas the host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, during the 33rd Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress at the Gulf Convention Centre in Manama on February 1, 2023. (Photo by Mazen Mahdi / AFP)
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Asian Champions
League last-16 ties postponed by the war in the Middle East will now take place
over one leg in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, the continental football body announced
today.
The region's top
club competition was thrown into disarray following the US and Israeli war on
Iran that started last month and has sparked reprisals by Tehran.
Two-legged
knockout games in the East segment of the Champions League went ahead but four
home-and-away ties in the West were postponed.
They will now
take place as one-off matches on April 13 and 14 at King Abdullah Sports City
and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City stadiums in Jeddah, the Asian
Football Confederation said.
Saudi teams Al
Ittihad and Al Ahli, the title-holders, will enjoy home advantage.
Iran's Tractor
are also in the last 16, facing Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.
The finals of
the competition, which has been rebranded the Asian Champions League Elite, are
still scheduled to be held in Jeddah on April 16-25.
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