The Asian Football Confederation (CAF) confirmed this Wednesday the elimination of the Champions League of its current champion, the Saudi Al Hilal, for not being able to have the minimum number of players for his match against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai of the United Arab Emirates due to the coronavirus.
“El Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia did not name the 13 players required for their CAF Champions League Group B match against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, of the United Arab Emirates, and under Article 4.3 of the Special Rules of competitions during the COVID-19 pandemic are eliminated from the competition, “the AFC said in a statement.
The AFC stressed that all the matches of the whole of Saudi Arabia “are considered void”Therefore, the Uzbek Pakhtakor and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai will be the ones to qualify for the eighth of the competition by Group B.
The champion tried to postpone their meeting, but the AFC did not grant their request because “a postponement would have a great negative impact on the current schedule of Champions League matches.”