Asian football is in turmoil as military tensions rise in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Saturday that it has postponed second-leg matches in West Asian club tournaments, originally scheduled for April 9-11, until further notice. This follows the earlier postponement of first-leg matches.
The affected fixtures include AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) Round of 16 second-leg matches in West Asia, as well as AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) and Challenge League quarterfinal second-leg matches involving West Asian teams.
The AFC had previously postponed first-leg matches indefinitely on April 1, the day after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran began, citing "the situation in the Middle East region."
"The safety and security of all stakeholders, including players, teams, officials, partners and fans, remains our top priority," the AFC said. "We are committed to ensuring a safe environment for everyone."
Matches involving East Asian teams will proceed as scheduled.