ZCZC
BSP-14
FOOTBALL-FIFA-WC-QUALIFIERS-POSTPONE
FIFA WC 2022 Qualifiers, Asian Cup postpone to next year
DHAKA, Aug. 12, 2020 (BSS)- The joint qualifiers round two of FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 have been postponed for next year due to COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag informed through a video message today.
“We have received a letter today from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in this regard …. there are still the flight and travelling restrictions from one country to another during COVID-19 situation … So the AFC taking consent with World Football Governing body FIFA, postponed the scheduled October-November World Cup qualifiers matches to next year and the AFC will carry the schedule of 2021 qualifiers to the participating countries after discussing with FIFA later stage,” Shohag said.
Meanwhile, the BFF general secretary informed that Shohag informed that a total of 26 out of 36-member Bangladesh national football team – thirty players and six officials – tested COVID-19 negative while seven players tested COVID-19 positive.
Those seven players tested COVID-19 positive are Anisur Rahman, M Rabiul Hasan, Tutul Hosain Badsha, Bishwanath Ghosh, MS Bablu, Faisal Ahmed Fahim and Shahidul Alam.
The rest of three players — Riyadul Hasan, Rakib Hossain and Rayhan Hasan — have been advised to keep special observations.
ICDDRB and Praava Health on Monday collected samples of the entire national team for testing COVID-19 for the second time.
The BFF also decided to postpone the ongoing national team’s training camp at Sarah Resort as the Asian AFC postponed all the matches for the joint qualifiers till 2021 due to travel restrictions.
BSS/SG/AU/19:10 hrs