Virus shutters Azkals schedule, too

The Philippines may have to wait a few more months before resuming its campaign in the joint Fifa World Cup AFC and Asian Cup qualifying.

Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta told the Inquirer that a proposal to postpone the March and June matches in the qualifying tournament has already been tabled before the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as a precaution to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

“For both Fifa and the AFC, the well-being and health of all individuals involved in football matches remains the highest priority, and as such, a formal proposal to postpone upcoming matches in the Asian Fifa World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 qua­lifiers will now be shared with the relevant member associations,” Fifa said in a statement.

The PFF is still waiting for the communication from the AFC on the postponement of matches, which will cover game against Guam on March 26 at Rizal Memorial Stadium as well as the away clash with China on June 4 and the home game against Maldives five days later.

Under the proposal, the match against Guam will be moved to October, while the China and Maldives matches are slated in the November Fifa window.

Araneta said the federation is exploring the possibility of playing a friendly with Cambodia on March 27. National team coach Scott Cooper is also ho­ping to hold a training camp for the March window, although most of his players are based in Thailand.