Asian Champions League - Count Down to the Final in Qatar

The east region tournament of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Asian Champions League has concluded. The hotly contested match on December 12th, against Japanese team Vissel Kobe, was won 2-1 in extra time with a victorious penalty goal from South Korean team, Ulsan Hyundai FC. Ulsan will now face off against Iran's Perspolis in the final.

Like both the west and east region tournaments, the final will take place in Qatar. The final match is due to take place on December 19th at the 2022 host nation's Al Janoub Stadium, a brand new construction for the up and coming FIFA World Cup. 

With the final of the AFC Asian Champions League almost upon us, it's a good time to reflect on what an achievement getting to this stage has been. In a year marked by national lockdown's, worldwide travel restrictions and over 70 million recorded cases of COVID-19, as well as 1.6 million deaths, it is a wonder that any continental football has been successfully played out.

Taking on COVID-19

Professional football in 2020 was as constrained as any other industry throughout the pandemic. During the first half of the year, across the entire world, football came to an almost complete standstill. Matches, leagues and tournaments were cancelled and postponed, some indefinitely. Stadiums and arenas were closed and fans told to stay away. The negative impacts of the crisis on the football world have included an incalculable loss in time and revenue and upended domestic and international calendars. Not to mention the health repercussions felt by many players, managers, officials and staff who have contracted coronavirus. 

Since the summer, games have slowly kicked off again in line with the ebb and flow of the virus. However, matches have mostly taken place in stadiums devoid of spectators! Games are now played under strict crisis management protocol aligned with Government recommendations, which can change at the drop of a hat. The restrictions have meant that domestic leagues have struggled to finish the season, regional, continental and international competitions have, in the majority cases, barely made headway. However, thanks to the management and organisation of AFC Champions League hosts, Qatar, this tournament has successfully reached the final.

In a bold move this Summer, Qatar agreed to host the west region's AFC Champions League, which ran from September 14th to October 3rd. It was the first continental tournament in the region since the COVID-19 pandemic began. And, with minimal cases of infection, the competition was a great success in terms of football. It was a huge accomplishment for the tiny nation soon to host the 2022 World Cup. The management of the competition in the middle of the pandemic not only demonstrated the country's event management know-how and ability to manage logistics, welfare and safety, all under unprecedented and challenging conditions, it also highlighted its operational readiness for 2022. Off the back of this success, Qatar accepted an invitation to host both the Champions League matches for the east region and the final. The AFC's decision to reach out to Qatar for all three events was and is a testament to the country's capabilities.

During both the west and east tournaments, team players, officials and staff travelling to Qatar had to observe strict health and safety protocols. Plans were drawn up by Qatar's main football bodies and public health organisations, the AFC and international health and safety institutes to ensure the competitions were conducted safely, and strict guidelines were followed throughout the event. This included the necessity for regular COVID-19 testing of all individuals associated with the event, the requirement for individuals to maintain set 'bubbles' for the duration of the tournament, obligatory social distancing and wearing of masks, and stringent disinfection and sanitisation protocols. The organising bodies ensured safe, sanitised accommodation, transportation, training and medical facilities, and the continual presence of medical staff throughout the competition.

The Final

The AFC Asian Champions League final 2020 is, for this year, a one-match event, and the league finalists will, of course, have to observe the strict health and safety protocols put in place for the previous tournaments. 

The match on December 19th will decide the winners of the Asian continent's premier club competition, and which team, Persepolis or Ulsan, will qualify for the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup*, also to be held in Qatar. Both Persepolis and Ulsan have reached the Asian Champions League finals before (2018 and 2012 respectively), but only Ulsan has lifted the coveted cup. But, whoever wins the cup, the victory over COVID-19 will be shared by all of those involved.