China relinquishes Asian tournament hosting rights
China has relinquished its hosting rights for the Asian Cup 2023 tournament scheduled to take place in June 2023 over the recent rise of Covid-19 in the Asian country The Trumpet gathered.
The Covid-19 scourge, the worst China have witnessed since the outbreak of the pandemic, has necessitated the Chinese Football Association (CFA) to relinquish its hosting rights having formally notified the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
AFC, after reviewing China’s proposition, conceded that the country’s reason to relinquish its hosting rights for Asia’s flagship national team tournament, slated to hold in eight cities including Shanghai, is cogent.
Shanghai, in total lockdown since last month, is the city where the new Pudong Football Stadium was built and unveiled in October 2021.
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“The AFC acknowledges the exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the relinquishment of its hosting rights,” the AFC said in a statement.
Although the AFC is yet to decide on succeeds China in hosting the tournament, the Asian football governing body said it will announce details about the tournament in due course.
