June 4 – A-League clubs Sydney FC, Melbourne City FC and Brisbane Roar have withdrawn from the Asian Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed today.
Less than three weeks before their first game, the Australian trio pulled out of the continental competition. The calendar of the Asian Champions League conflicts with the A-League’s finals schedule. The A-League playoffs kick off next Friday and the grand final will take place on June 26.
Australia also has strict quarantine rules requiring a 14-day isolation period on anyone returning to the country.
In order to get the Asian Champions League group stages played (which have been expanded this year with an extra eight teams) the AFC had opted for centralised venues. Last month the AFC’s East Zone successfully completed their group stages though did have to play one group with just three teams following the withdraw Al Whada from the UAE.
Brisbane had been due to play Filipino team Kaya FC-Iloilo in the preliminary knock out stage on June 20, with Melbourne City’s playoff game against Japanese club Cerezo Osaka played the next day in Thailand.
Sydney FC’s group stage in Uzbekistan was scheduled to start June 26. The group includes South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai who were finalists last year.
“The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committees, with a decision to be communicated in due course,” added the AFC in its statement.
What looks most likely – considering the decisions not to sanction withdrawing clubs fron the East Zone qualifiers – is that Melbourne and Brisbane will forfeit their play-offs whilst Sydney’s group will continue with three teams.
It will be a disappointment for Melbourne City and their owners who had qualified for the next stage of Champions League play for the first time. Melbourne are owned by City Football Group who also own Manchester City who had their own European Champions League slip-up last week, losing to Chelsea in the final.
Australia’s mens national team last night competed in Kuwait in their preliminary World Cup 2022 qualifying group, beating the Kuwaitis 3-0 to top the group by five points with three games to play. They will be in Kuwait until the group completes on June 15.
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