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Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 26 (IANS): The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided to cancel a number of competitions, including AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 and the AFC U-19 Championship Uzbekistan 2020, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The next editions of both competitions will be allocated to the same hosts in 2023 when the Uzbekistan Football Association will host the AFC U20 Asian Cup and Bahrain Football Association will stage the AFC U17 Asian Cup.
"The AFC, taking into consideration the uncertainty and risks in view of the current pandemic, has decided to cancel a number of competitions to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders," AFC said in a statement.
The AFC has also decided to cancel the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship in Kuwait and the 2021 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup in Thailand, it added. Kuwait will stage the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2022 and Thailand, the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup 2023.
"We are grateful for the support of the hosts for these competitions who agreed with the AFC the need to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders during this time of uncertainty and taking into consideration the risks of the current pandemic," said AFC general secretary Dato' Windsor John.