Virus cases oust soccer team from Asian Champions League

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - After several players tested positive for COVID-19, United Arab Emirates soccer club Al Wahda had its results wiped from the Asian Champions League on Monday.

The club was judged to have withdrawn from the competition when it failed to travel to Qatar to resume games in a tournament bubble, the Asian Football Confederation ruled.

Al Wahda’s players were quarantined in the UAE and unable to travel to Doha as required four days ahead of its first game which was scheduled for Monday.

“Al Wahda and the (UAE soccer federation) requested the matches be postponed,” the Asian governing body said. “However, because the preparations were advanced and other teams had arrived, this was not possible.”

With Al Wahda removed, its three group-stage opponents will continue playing games that were paused since February due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Qatar is hosting the western half of the 2020 Asian Champions League to produce a finalist by Oct. 3.

The eastern half of the competition resumes in October including teams from Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.

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