The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Sunday introduced to postpone the AFC Cup Group D matches within the Maldives after three Bengaluru FC gamers allegedly breached Covid-19 protocols.
Bengaluru FC had been scheduled to face native membership Eagles FC in a playoff match after which the Group D matches had been scheduled to start out on May 14 with fellow Indian Super League (ISL) facet ATK Mohun Bagan dealing with the winners of the playoff.
“Participating clubs which have travelled to the Maldives will be required to arrange for their return home while adhering to the Covid-19 health and travel protocols put in place by the country. At the same time, the AFC is in contact with all other participating clubs and officials who have not entered the Maldives to cancel their travel arrangements,” mentioned the AFC.
“The AFC Cup (South) group stage matches are now postponed until further notice with more information to be announced in due course,” it added.
Earlier, Maldives’ Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof condemned Bengaluru FC for breaching the rules issued by the nation’s Health Protection Agency as properly the AFC.
Mahloof didn’t describe the character of the breach however termed Bengaluru’s behaviour as “unacceptable”, saying the membership has to depart Maldives “immediately”.
“Unacceptable behaviour from @bengalurufc breaching the strict guidelines from HPA & @theafcdotcom. The club should leave (Maldives) immediately as we can’t entertain this act. We honoured the commitment we gave a few months back even with the surge in cases & pressure from the public,” Mahloof tweeted.
We have knowledgeable FAM that we can not maintain the match, and requested them to make preparations for @bengalurufc’s departure. We shall be in additional correspondence with AFC via @MaldivesFA to postpone the group stage. https://t.co/wPO7Qkw9Ou
— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) May 8, 2021
His tweets got here after native media reported that a number of Bengaluru FC gamers had been noticed within the streets and in addition posted images of the gamers. Mahloof mentioned in a tweet later that the federal government has knowledgeable the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) that the match can not go forward and can later ask the Asian Football Confederation to postpone the group stage matches scheduled to be held within the nation after the sport.
“We have informed FAM that we cannot hold the match, and asked them to make arrangements for @bengalurufc’s departure. We will be in further correspondence with AFC through @MaldivesFA to postpone the group stage,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC proprietor Parth Jindal apologised on Sunday, stating that three of the membership’s “foreign players/staff” had been liable for the breach.
“On behalf of @bengalurufc I am extremely sorry for the inexcusable behaviour of three of our foreign players/staff while in Male – the strictest action will be taken against these players/staff. We have let @AFCCup down and can only say that this will never happen again,” Jindal mentioned in a tweet.
On behalf of @bengalurufc I’m extraordinarily sorry for the inexcusable conduct of three of our international gamers/employees whereas in Male – the strictest motion shall be taken in opposition to these gamers/employees. We have let @AFCCup down and may solely say that it will by no means occur once more
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) May 9, 2021
Indian Super League (ISL) membership Bengaluru FC arrived within the Maldives on Friday forward of their 2021 AFC Cup Playoff conflict on May 11. The Sunil Chhetri-led Bengaluru FC are slated to tackle Eagles FC on Tuesday.
