AFC Cup delayed

The AFC Cup group stages of the South Zone have been postponed, prompting Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings to abort their scheduled departure for Maldives.

“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) can confirm that the AFC Cup (South) Group D matches, which were scheduled to take place from May 14 to 21, 2021, will not be held in Male, Maldives,” a statement from the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday afternoon said. “Participating clubs who have travelled to Maldives will be required to arrange for their return home while adhering to the COVID-19 health and travel protocols put in place by the country.  At the same time, the AFC is in contact with all other Participating clubs and officials who have not entered the Maldives to cancel their travel arrangements. “The AFC Cup (South) Group Stage matches are now postponed until further notice with more information to be announced in due course,” the statement further added. The Kings were supposed to leave for the island nation this evening, but were told to stay back as Maldives expressed its inability to host the tournament in face of rising Covid infections and travel restrictions in the country.

“We have just been told to stay back by the BFF. We haven't yet seen the letter from AFC or Maldives FA but we believe it is due to the rising Covid infections there. We were just getting ready to go to airport when the instruction came,” Bashundhara Kings' TD BA Jubair Nipu told. On Saturday, the Maldivian government suspended entry from seven South Asian countries, jeopardising the fate of the tournament. However, the final nail in the coffin of the competition came later in the day as some members of Bengaluru FC, who are already in Male for a playoff match, allegedly broke Covid protocol. Maldives' Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Ahmed Mahloof reacted to this development and asked Bengaluru FC to leave Maldives immediately. “Unacceptable behavior from Bengaluru FC breaching the strict guidelines from HPA & AFC. The club should leave Maldives immediately as we can't entertain this act. We honoured the commitment we gave a few months back even with the surge in cases & pressure from the public,” a tweet from the minister read.

Mahloof further mentioned that the country have decided not to host the AFC Cup play-offs tie between Bengaluru FC vs Eagles FC and the ministry has informed FAM to make arrangements for the Blues' departure. They will also request AFC to postpone the AFC Cup Group E matches. “We have informed FAM that we cannot hold the match, and asked them to make arrangements for Bengaluru FC's departure. We will be in further correspondence with AFC through Maldives FA to postpone the group stage,” the tweet added. The group stages were supposed to feature Bashundhara Kings, Maziya SR&C, ATK Mohun Bagan and the winner of the playoff between Club Eagles and Bengaluru FC.