The Asian Football Confederation announced today, Wednesday, that the matches of the Chinese clubs scheduled to be held at home next February and March, as part of the AFC Champions League group stage matches, will be transferred out of the country to be played outside the home, due to the Corona virus that struck China weeks ago.
A statement on the Al-Ittihad website said that the decision was taken after consultations with the Chinese Federation for the game, "as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and welfare of the participating players and clubs."
Up to now, the virus has killed more than 130 people and infected nearly 6,000 in China, and it has appeared in 15 countries around the world.
This has canceled many of the championships and sports events that were scheduled in China, or moved abroad as a result of the epidemic.
The federation’s decision will affect four Chinese clubs and the same from South Korea. In the fifth group, the South Korean FC Seoul was supposed to be the guest of Beijing FC on February 11, but the match will take place in Seoul on the same day.
As for the fourth group, Ulsan Hyundai will meet at home with Shanghai Shenhua instead of Shanghai on the 18th of next month, while in the seventh, he will meet “Suwon Samsung Blue Wings” and “Gwangju Evergrandy” on February 12 in Suwon South Seoul instead of Gwangju.
As for the eighth group, Shanghai SIPG will travel to meet Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on February 19.
The AFC said it would make its decision later on home and other matches.