November 11-12 in Seoul and Suwon: Thousands of Beijing and Guangzhou Supporters Expected at Asian Champions League Matches
Australia Bans Entry of Chinese Nationals... AFC Emergency Meeting Today
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Starting today (the 4th), entry bans on Chinese nationals at high risk of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) have been implemented. Meanwhile, thousands of Chinese are scheduled to visit Korea next week to watch soccer matches, causing related agencies to scramble for countermeasures.
The soccer matches in question are part of the group stage of the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (hereafter ACL), specifically the match between FC Seoul and Beijing Guoan (at Seoul World Cup Stadium) on the 11th, and the match between Suwon Samsung and Guangzhou Evergrande (at Suwon World Cup Stadium) on the 12th.
Chinese soccer fans are known for forming large groups of thousands of supporters who travel to away games in the ACL. Even in last year’s ACL matches held in Korea, 2,000 to 3,000 away supporters attended each game. At that time, matches were held in non-capital regions such as Daegu, Changwon in Gyeongnam, and Jeonju in Jeonbuk. However, this time, since the matches are in Seoul and Suwon, which are more accessible from China, it is highly likely that even more fans will visit the stadiums.
Since the supporter groups are mainly composed of fans affiliated with local regions, this is largely unrelated to the Ministry of Justice’s 'entry restrictions.' The Ministry of Justice has implemented a policy from the 4th that blocks entry of Chinese nationals holding passports issued by Hubei Province and denies entry to all foreigners who have visited Hubei Province within the past 14 days. However, it is understood that most of the supporters this time reside in Beijing and Guangzhou.
The situation is similar in Australia, which is also holding ACL group stage matches at the same time. However, Australia has completely banned entry of Chinese nationals from the 1st and suspended all flights to and from China. Therefore, the matches between Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG on the 11th and 12th are uncertain in terms of continuation.
Concerns have arisen that the soccer matches could become a catalyst for the spread of the novel coronavirus or amplify anxiety among domestic residents, prompting each club to prepare countermeasures. The four K League teams participating in the ACL held a meeting with the Korea Professional Football League on the 3rd and reportedly agreed on a proposal to the AFC, the organizer of the tournament, to postpone the ACL opening.
The final decision on schedule changes will be made by the AFC. There is also speculation that matches involving Chinese teams might be held in neutral countries or conducted as games without spectators. The AFC plans to hold an emergency meeting at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the afternoon of the 4th to decide on any schedule changes.
However, due to the nature of the group stage, which must be held simultaneously across several Asian countries, schedule coordination is expected to be difficult. A representative of a K League club said, "We are doing our best in cooperation with local governments to ensure quarantine and hygiene," adding, "We only hope the AFC makes a wise decision."
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