AFC disqualify Al Hilal from the Asian Champions league
The Saudi Arabian side will have to take on its counterpart with a squad comprising 11 players including 3 goalkeepers.
The Asian Football Federation (AFC) has called off the game between Al-Hilal Club and Ahli Dubai as the Saudi side couldn't secure a squad comprising 13 players as required by the federation's regulations.
The Al Hilal squad included 8 players and 3 goalkeepers which resulted in the federation canceling the game and disregarding results of all their previous games, disqualifying them from the competition.
Based on subjects 3-4 of the african champions league Pakhtir and Ahly Dubai are considered qualified to the round of 16 after the elimination of the saudi team that had been on top of its group.
Al-Hilal Club of Saudi Arabia announced their squad for their last game in the group stage of the Asian Champions League against Ahly Dubai which only includes 8 players and 3 goalkeepers, as the team's squad had been hit with numerous Covid-19 infections earlier.
Al-Hilal club has submitted a request to the Asian Football Federation in order to postpone the game, due to the spread of the infection among their players and staff as more than 30 people have contracted the virus including their Romanian coach Răzvan Lucescu.
However, the Asian Federation refused their request leaving the club out of options, but to play the game with his 11-player squad without substitutions.
The asian federation regulations imply that any team whose squad doesn’t include 13 players including a goalkeeper becomes disqualified, however the federation can consider postponing the game or rescheduling it if possible based on the calendar of asian and international competitionsThe asian federation regulations imply that any team whose squad doesn’t include 13 players including a goalkeeper becomes disqualified, however the federation can consider postponing the game or rescheduling it if possible based on the calendar of asian and international competitions.