China News Service, February 2nd. According to the official news of the Chinese Football Association, the AFC formally wrote to the Chinese Football Association on the 2nd. Taking into account the current epidemic situation and the actual difficulties and challenges in running the game, after consultation with FIFA, It was decided to postpone the home and away match of the Chinese team against South Korea in the Tokyo Olympic Women's Football Asian Qualifiers scheduled on February 19 and 24 to April 8 and 13.
Screenshot of Chinese Football Association official micro dynamic
In the Group B match of the Tokyo Olympic Women's Football Qualifiers held in February last year, the Chinese women ranked second in the group with three matches, two wins and one draw.
According to the rules, the Chinese women's football team will have a play-off with the South Korean team to compete for a place in the Tokyo Olympics.
It is worth mentioning that the two rounds of life and death battle between the Chinese women's football team and the South Korean team to determine Olympic tickets have been postponed twice before.
This postponement is already the third postponement of the two teams' Olympic preliminaries.
Data map: On February 13, 2020, the final match of Group B of the Tokyo Olympic Women's Asian Qualifiers was held in Sydney, Australia. The Chinese women drew 1:1 with the Australian team and ranked second in the Olympic preliminaries.
The picture shows the Chinese women's football starting players singing the national anthem before the game.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tao Shelan
Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the two games that were originally scheduled to be held in Yongin, South Korea and Sydney, Australia on March 6 and 12 last year were postponed to June of the same year, and then postponed again.
It was not until May 27th Beijing time that the AFC announced the newly determined game time, which is now the two game days that are approaching on February 19th and 24th.
In addition, the AFC also stated at the time that taking into account the epidemic, the decision to postpone the game will help the two football associations to make more adequate preparations for the game.
The Chinese football team also stated on the official social platform on May 27 last year that after consultations between the Chinese Football Association and the Korean Football Association, and with the agreement of FIFA and AFC, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Women's Football Team was originally scheduled for June this year. The two rounds of the Asian qualifiers between China and South Korea will be postponed to February 2021.
According to the original plan, on February 19, the Chinese team will go to the away game to challenge South Korea, and on February 24, the Chinese team will usher in the second round at home.
Data map: Yao Lingwei (Red No. 16) dribbled the ball in the match between the Chinese women's football team and Australia.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Tao Shelan
However, the development of the epidemic situation was not as optimistic as expected. After many negotiations, the Olympic preliminaries between China and South Korea were postponed again. The Chinese Football Association stated that it will continue to make all preparations for the event. At present, the official has not disclosed information about the venue and kick-off time of the playoffs after the postponement. (Finish)