Notification of changes in soccer matches
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) issued an emergency notice at noon today, in view of the recent outbreak of the new crown epidemic in the Maldives and Syria, according to the regulations on the prevention and control of epidemics in China's entry personnel, the eligibility of the above two teams has been suspended, and they are unable to participate in the tournament according to the original plan. After the AFC's suggestion, the CFA agreed to change the remaining 7 matches of Group A of the 40-team tournament to be held in the United Arab Emirates.
On the eve of the match against China in Guam, the unfortunate diagnosis of the Maldives captain and the delayed departure of the chartered flights of the Maldives and Syria teams was like a dark cloud hanging over the city, and everyone expected the situation to be handled quickly and properly. The Chinese team, playing at home, had the best chance of getting out of the tournament, so they waited anxiously for the result. From the early hours of the morning, the bad news continued until the morning when it was confirmed that the match would be held off-site.
In the afternoon, the Chinese Football Association held a press conference, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Luo Zhao disclosed the relevant situation: "Syria's entire team of 49 people, of whom 11 (including four players and seven officials) did not get the green code, two of whom have a history of new crown disease; two people twice serum antibody test positive; seven people once serum antibody positive. The Maldives had a team of 34 players, with one person found positive in the first round of nucleic acid testing and one suspected positive in the second round of testing, which showed that two people were quarantined. Serum antibody tests were positive for one person in the first round and six in the second round. The entire team was barred from entering the country as close contacts due to positive nucleic acid tests."
The Chinese team continued training in Suzhou this afternoon and the team is aware of the change. From an objective point of view, the change of the tournament from home to away is unavoidable. The team will actively adjust their mentality and condition, and do their best to get ready for the next away matches. It is reported that the Chinese team will depart from Shanghai to Dubai on the evening of the 2nd, and the CFA will send a large epidemic prevention and logistic service team to accompany the team on the trip, and the delegation may amount to about 70 people.
The Malaysia-Syria teams are training in Dubai and were scheduled to enter the country from Shanghai on May 30 on the same flight, play Malaysia on June 3, face the Philippines on June 9 and play Syria on June 15. As the remaining Group A matches were changed to take place in Dubai, the two teams thus occupied a favorable position. The Chinese team, on the other hand, had to deal with the challenges of jet lag, climate, venue as well as food and drink due to the suddenness of the event. Based on the analysis of the Chinese team's arrival time in Dubai, the China-Malaysia match will be postponed, while the China-Philippines battle is scheduled for the 9th, with six days of adjustment space in between.
