![[Valid Atom 1.0]](valid-atom.png "Validate my Atom 1.0 feed")
BBC MUNDO RADIO
AFC postpones Asian Champions League matches in Japan amid tsunami, earthquake devastation
TOKYO - The Asian Football Confederation has postponed Asian Champions League matches in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
AFC president Mohamed Bin Hammam issued a statement Saturday extending his condolences to the people of Japan and announcing the indefinite suspension of ACL group matches scheduled for this week in Nagoya and Kashima.
Nagoya Grampus was due to play United Arab Emirates' club Al Ain on Tuesday and Kashima Antlers were to host Australia's Sydney FC on Wednesday.
A powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the country's eastern coast on Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. At least 574 people had been confirmed dead by Saturday evening.
Japan's football authorities quickly suspended all 19 J-League first and second division weekend matches.
Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that Alberto Zaccheroni, the Italian coach of the Japanese national football team, and four of his assistants had returned to Italy to be with their families.
He has not scheduled a return date, and Japan's international football friendlies against Montenegro on March 25 and New Zealand on March 29 are in doubt.
"First of all, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims of this earthquake," Zaccheroni was quoted as saying. "The families of me and my staff in Italy are worried about our safety after the damage the quake has done. With permission from the JFA, we have decided to return to Italy to ease their worries.
"Our return date has not been decided, but I am looking forward to coming back as soon as possible to work with the people of Japan again."
In the hours following the biggest quake ever in Japan, Zaccheroni — who has been based mainly in Tokyo since he took the Japan job in August — was quoted as telling Italian television that "everything was rocking" and the he felt "as if I was inside a house made of rubber."
Other sports events have been cancelled, including baseball games in Tokyo, Chiba and Yokohama.
A special committee meeting investigating match-fixing in the traditional Japanese sport of sumo has also been delayed.
But the International Skating Union said Friday said it had no immediate plans to cancel the figure skating world championships in Tokyo, scheduled to begin March 21. A report from local organizers said the venue, Yoyogi National Stadium, appeared to be unscathed.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário