Asian Cup postponed in wake of attacks on Saudi Arabia
The Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been pushed back almost a full year, with the twenty four team tournament now set to run from December twenty third, twenty twenty seven, to January twenty first, twenty twenty eight, after repeated attacks on the host country.
The Asian Football Confederation has rescheduled the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, moving the tournament from early next year to December twenty twenty seven after a series of attacks on the host country.
The twenty four team competition was due to begin in Riyadh on January seventh, twenty twenty seven, and run until February fifth. It will now take place from December twenty third, twenty twenty seven, to January twenty first, twenty twenty eight.
The governing body said exceptional circumstances had made the original dates unworkable, pointing to substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions across the region, and said the change was necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly come under attack from Yemen's Houthis since September, including strikes on Riyadh's international airport, and a number of other sports events in the country have been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks.
The new dates will now be presented to FIFA for approval, only a week after the confederation had said the tournament would go ahead as planned despite the escalating security situation.
Reporting based on coverage from BBC News.
