After the executive meeting online on September 10, the regional football federation released a statement of their decision for the scheduled tournaments of the league.

“In view of the logistics in coordinating the five zones of the AFC Cup and completing the Inter-Zone matches, the AFC Executive Committee also agreed that the pandemic created complexities which constituted a Force Majeure event and, with sadness, led to the cancellation of the 2020 competition,” the statement read.

The games were supposedly scheduled this month in centralized venues after being suspended last March due to Covid-19.

Two of Philippines Football League (PFL) Clubs, United City FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo, was supposed to play their second set of group matches if the football action had resumed. 

Before the tournament was postponed in March, United City FC topped Group G with seven points while Kaya FC was running second with five points in Group H.

AFC youth championships scheduled for Bahrain and Uzbekistan have been postponed until early 2021 as the federation is taking into consideration the welfare of young players as well as the travel and health challenges. 

AFC Solidarity Cup has also been canceled and will be played in 2024. In addition, AFC Futsal Club Championship UAE 2020 has been moved to 2021.

“These are tough times for everyone connected with football – and sport in general. We are taking steps to ensure the financial well-being of the AFC and its MAs,” AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said.

“I am certain that with the unity and solidarity for which the AFC has become admired across football, we can overcome this latest challenge,” he added.

The 30th AFC Congress expected on December 9 to be held in Malaysia will no longer proceed as planned as it was decided to be held online.