After successfully hosting the tournament’s West Zone segment, Qatar will provide a bio-safe environment in order to complete Asia’s premier club competition

Qatar will play host to the East Zone teams of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League as they battle it out for a place in the final, set to take place on December 19 2020.

After successfully hosting the AFC Champions League West Zone matches, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) asked Qatar to again provide a bio-safe environment for teams from the East Zone in order to continue the competition – which were postponed last March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Sixteen teams from six countries will take part in the East Zone tournament between November 18 and December 1, with matches taking places in four stadiums. Four clubs from both China and the Korea Republic will compete, along with three from Australia, three from Japan and one each from Malaysia and Thailand.

The teams and officials who travel to Qatar for the tournament will adhere to a strict health and safety framework to ensure the safe participation of players, officials and members of the local organising committee. During the West Zone tournament, Qatar carried out more than 7,900 COVID-19 tests in an effort to detect cases as early as possible, with only 1.7% testing positive. 

Read also: Qatar conducts 7,900 tests during ‘successful’ AFC Champions League

Mansoor Al Ansari, General Secretary, Qatar Football Association, said: “We are very happy to provide a safe environment for the AFC in order to complete the AFC Champions League and look forward to hosting the leading clubs from the east of the region during November and December. Qatar knows how important football is to Asia so is pleased to be able to offer the world-class sporting infrastructure and operational health and safety expertise that exists in the country to allow for the resumption of competitive continental football once again.”  

All team members and visitors will be tested upon arrival and throughout the tournament, while all venues will be disinfected regularly, including the training and media facilities. Medical staff will be stationed in stadiums throughout the competition to ensure all health and safety guidelines are strictly followed.

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