By David Gold
February 29 – Due to the deteriorating security situation in both Syria and Yemen, the country’s clubs have been told by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to play their “home” AFC Cup games abroad.
The decision by the AFC Competition Committee, detailed to the Football Associations of the two countries, affects Syrian sides Al-Ittihad and Al-Shorta, and Yemen’s Al-Orouba and Al-Tilal.
All now have to nominate neutral venues to play their home games after the AFC acted on FIFA recommendations that international matches are not played in the two countries.
Syria is currently on the verge of civil war as its President Bashar al-Assad clings to power, with the military continuing to attack areas in which opposition to the Government is strong.
Like in Syria and much of the Arab world, an uprising began last year in Yemen which led to the resignation of its leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, and an “election” recently to replace him, in which just one candidate stood.
The country is still beset by violence, with the increasingly dominant Al-Qaeda carrying out a suicide bombing recently which claimed 26 lives.
Al-Tilal have already played a playoff game in the Maldives due to the security problems, and they now play Lebanon’s Al-Safa, Iraq’s Al-Zawra’a and Al-Shorta in Group E of the AFC Cup.
In Group B Al Orouba take on India’s East Bengal, Kuwait’s Kazma and Iraq’s Arbil, while Al-Ittihad will take on Al Qadsia of Kuwait, Jordanians Al-Faisaly and Oman’s Al-Suwaiq in Group A.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734803173labto1734803173ofdlr1734803173owedi1734803173sni@d1734803173log.d1734803173ivad1734803173