KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia): Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim have withdrawn from AFC Champions League after authorities refused to let them travel for the tournament in Qatar due to coronavirus restrictions.
The delayed Champions League East competition runs from November 18 to December 4 in a bio-secure “bubble” in Doha, followed by knockout games leading up to the final in the Qatari capital on December 19.
But the Malaysian government decided Johor, who were second in Group G, would not be allowed to leave the country as its borders remain closed to stem the spread of Covid-19.
Technical director Alistair Edwards said the team were “extremely disappointed” but added: “We respect the decision by the Malaysian government and understand that such safety measures need to be enforced.”
The Southeast Asian nation, which has seen a spike in virus infections in recent weeks, banned most travel in and out of the country earlier this year, shortly after the pandemic emerged.
