Discussions underway to postpone AFC Cup matches

Minister of Sports Ahmed Mahloof has stated that discussions are now underway to postpone the centralized matches of the AFC Cup's South Asia Zone, which were previously scheduled to be held in Maldives.

The AFC Cup were scheduled to be hosted in the Maldives later this month, but as the number of new Covid-19 infections soared past 600 on Tuesday, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has moved to strengthen Covid-19 health and safety measures across the country. As such, sporting events can only be held through special permits in order to curb the spread of Covid-19, with all in-bound travelers from India also required to observe a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

The AFC Cup match between Maldives' Club Eagles and India's Bengaluru FC was scheduled for 11 May in Male' City. Matches for the AFC Cup's group stage were to be held between 14 and 21 May, with India's Bengaluru FC and Mohun Bagan teams set to travel to the country along with Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings football team.

In a tweet posted on Thursday evening, Minister of Sports Ahmed Mahloof stated that as Covid-19 numbers are increasing at an alarming rate, the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) was now in talks with the AFC to postpone the centralized matches of the AFC Cup South Asia Zone.

While discussions are now underway to postpone the matches, HPA had previously issued a special permit to host the matches in the Maldives.

Minister of Sports Ahmed Mahloof held a press conference on Wednesday evening along with the President of the Football Association of Maldives, Bassam Adeel Jaleel at the National Football Stadium. During the presser, Minister Mahloof stated that all teams participating in the AFC Cup in Maldives can only enter stadiums after having fulfilled all the necessary health and safety precautions.

Minister Mahloof had then expressed happiness that the Maldives would be hosting this year's AFC Cup, despite the prevailing global Covid-19 pandemic.