According to press reports today, Saturday, Al Hilal, Al Nasr, Al Wahda and Al Ahly clubs will participate in the new version of the AFC Champions League if the Saudi Football Federation decides to cancel the current edition of the Mohammed bin Salman Cup.
According to the website of the Saudi newspaper, Al-Eqtisadiah, the first three teams in the Saudi league table currently suspended due to the emerging Corona virus crisis, will qualify directly for the Asian Championship, with Al-Ahly running in the preliminary round as the fourth-ranked player.
The four teams are required to obtain the Asian license as a prerequisite to participate in the 2021 Champions League, in the event that the league does not resume and after the Executive Office approves the proposal.
Jordanian Monem Fakhoury, the international observer accredited by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, said in exclusive statements to Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper that the executive office will issue a clarifying statement next week, the mechanism of participation in the 2021 AFC Champions League, and the AFC Cup for teams that canceled competitions Her country (league, cup, or both).
He added, "This proposal is under study. There is currently no confirmation of the participation mechanism of clubs that cancel their country's patrols and the Cup competition even if one or two rounds are held, or one or two rounds or final rounds remain."
Fakhoury said, "The local federations that cancel the league and cup competition have no right to nominate their representatives in the 2021 version if one of the four is without an Asian license. The decision is in the hands of the AFC, the article quoted from the AFC instructions for organizing the seasons indicates that in the absence of a league championship Or a cup championship in the season leading up to the Asian competition, the AFC Secretariat is the decision-maker in determining which sporting seasons sporting criteria will be applied to choosing a representative of a country, and this option may not be resorted to at all, and the AFC will have other criteria.
He explained, "In the case of Saudi Arabia, I think that the arrangement of the first four clubs will be approved when the season is canceled to choose who will participate in the 2021 season, but this is not a prerequisite."
"If a Saudi team wins the AFC Champions League in the 2020 season and when the league is canceled and its sixth rank is here, the AFC will have the right to choose this team to be among the teams participating in the 2021 season."
Regarding opening the door for new professionals to join the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup clubs in case it was decided not to resume their local competitions and continue to suspend sports activities, Fakhoury said, "This needs a recommendation from the Competitions Committee and then the approval of the Executive Office."