The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Saturday confirmed that China will now not host the 2023 Asian Cup finals due to the COVID-19 state of affairs within the nation and that the authorities will determine on a brand new host in due course.
The Asian Cup which is held each 4 years was scheduled to happen throughout China from June 16 to July 16 subsequent yr, with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) admitted that it could not be doable for them to host the match.
“The Asian Football Confederation has been officially informed by the CFA (Chinese Football Association) that it would not be able to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023. The AFC acknowledges the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the relinquishment by China PR of its hosting rights.” the Asian Football Confederation mentioned in a press release.
#BREAKING | ?? CHINA WITHDRAWS AS HOST OF 2023 AFC ASIAN CUP
? Following intensive discussions with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has been formally knowledgeable by the CFA that it could not have the ability to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ pic.twitter.com/don5CIk8ko
— ASEAN FOOTBALL (@theaseanball) May 14, 2022
The Asian Cup is the newest worldwide sporting occasion to be affected by the COVID-19 state of affairs in China, with the Olympic Council of Asia suspending the Asian Games which was initially scheduled to be held in within the Chinese metropolis of Hangzhou in September.
Most worldwide sporting occasions in China have been postponed or cancelled because the begin of the pandemic, with the notable exception of the Winter Olympics, which went forward in Beijing beneath strict well being controls in February.