Posted in: 14/05/2022 – 11:48
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – China has apologized for not hosting the 2023 AFC Asian Cup due to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Continental Confederation announced on Saturday, at a time when the country is battling the worst spread of the Corona virus since the outbreak began.
The tournament was scheduled to be held in 10 Chinese cities from June 16 to July 16, 2023, with the participation of 24 teams, following China was chosen to host on June 5, 2019 during the extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly in Paris.
“After extensive consultations with the Chinese Football Association, the Chinese Football Association informed the Asian Football Confederation of its inability to host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup,” the Confederation said in a statement, adding that the next steps related to hosting will be announced in due course.
China is finally facing a new wave of infections with the Covid-19 virus, which has led to the closure of many cities and the confinement of millions of residents in their homes.
The Asian Cup is added to a series of events in China that faced cancellation or postponement, most notably the “Hangju 2022” Asian Games, which were scheduled for September, 200 km from Shanghai, which was affected by the pandemic.
The AFC added that it took into account the exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to China waiving the hosting rights, adding that it “worked closely with the Chinese Football Association and the Local Organizing Committee for the 2023 Asian Cup in China, during the period In preparation, important steps have been taken, including the launch of the tournament logo and the unveiling last year of the completion of construction work on the new Shanghai Bandung Stadium.”
While the Confederation expressed its “appreciation to China”, it described the decision as “difficult but necessary for the common interests of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, as the AFC will have enough time to assess the situation regarding hosting the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.”
The teams of China (being the former host), Japan, Syria, Qatar, South Korea, Australia, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Vietnam and Lebanon, have qualified for the tournament, in which 24 teams participate, while it is scheduled to complete the third round qualifiers between June 8 and 14, according to the pool system.
Japan holds the record for the number of titles (4) once morest Saudi Arabia and Iran (3), while Qatar won the first title in its history in 2019 in the UAE.
consecutive cancellations
Almost all international events scheduled in China have been canceled since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan in late 2019.
The Olympic Council of Asia also announced last week the cancellation of the third Asian Youth Games scheduled in the Chinese city of Shantou in December, following it had been postponed once.
The International Universiade Games, which were scheduled to take place between June 26 and July 7 in Chengdu, China, to 2023, have also been canceled, following they had previously been postponed from last year.
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was an exception, but it was held in a “closed bubble” amid strict measures for everyone inside it, including athletes, staff, volunteers and the media, as everyone underwent COVID-19 tests daily and was not allowed to go out to the city or come into contact with the public who was present. In small quantities.
China adhered to the “zero Covid” policy and imposed a strict lockdown, quarantine and mass testing programs, while life returned to normal in most countries of the world with a low risk of the epidemic.
The government promoted the strategy as evidence that it put human life above material concerns and might avert the health crises experienced in many Western countries.
Chinese leaders have vowed to “unswervingly adhere” to the “zero COVID” policy and “resolutely fight” once morest criticism of the policy, despite growing public outcry once morest the measures.
This anger is particularly visible in Shanghai, where 25 million people have been under lockdown since March amid complaints of excessive lockdown measures and harsh quarantine conditions.
© 2022 AFP
