KUALA LUMPUR: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed all football games and competitions scheduled for May and June until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Asian Champions League, Asia’s elite club competition, has been severely affected with its schedule of the group phase thrown into disarray since the tournament began in February, Reuters reported.

The second-tier AFC Cup was also suspended last month due to the COVID-19 disease that has infected over 1.9 million people globally and caused more than 120,000 deaths as of Tuesday.

Following the continued preventive measures and travel restrictions put in place by several governments, the AFC has decided to postpone all matches and competitions scheduled to take place in May and June until further notice,” the AFC said in a statement.

“The AFC has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and had earlier postponed its matches in March and April after holding a series of emergency meetings in New Delhi, Doha, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.

“The AFC will also continue to engage and consult with the participating member associations in the AFC club competitions and will explore all possible options to complete the 2020 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup group stages.”

World football governing body FIFA and the AFC had previously agreed to postpone the Asian World Cup qualifying matches in March and June.

However, Windsor John, general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), said he was confident that the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup would both be completed.

“Both will be played this year. We still have time,” John told AFP, adding that new dates for the competitions may be known by the end of April.

(with inputs from Agencies)