04.06.2021 08:31 h
Australian sides pull out of Champions League after Covid rejig
Christoph Hardt via www.imago-images.de
Australian sides Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar have pulled out of the Asian Champions League, organisers said Friday, after an A-League overhaul caused scheduling clashes.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the withdrawals, but not give any explanation.
However it came hours after the A-League said its finals schedule had been rejigged to run from June 11-26, because of coronavirus restrictions prompted by an outbreak in Victoria state.
Brisbane were due to face Philippine team Kaya FC-Iloilo on June 20 in the Champions League preliminary round, and Melbourne were to play Japan's Cerezo Osaka the following day.
Sydney had a group stage match against South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors scheduled for June 26.