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Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC’s AFC Cup play-off clash against Maldives Eagles, which had been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in India, has now been rescheduled for May 11.
The Blues were scheduled to play on April 28. But, they will now travel to the Maldives to take on hosts Club Eagles next month in their Group D fixture.
An Asian Football Confederation (AFC) statement on Friday read as, “The sub-committee agreed to award the Playoff Stage slot to Club Eagles, who will now face India’s JSW Bengaluru FC for a place in the AFC Cup Group D on May 11, 2021 in Maldives.”
Bengaluru FC were earlier drawn to play the winners of the clash between Bangladesh Premier League champions Abahani and Maldives Eagles.
However, a nationwide lockdown and travel restrictions in Bangladesh forced Abahani to withdraw from the tournament altogether.
The AFC statement on this matter continued, “Taking into careful consideration the exceptional circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the lockdown and travel restrictions in Bangladesh, the Sub-Committee decided that Abahani Limited Dhaka are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Cup 2021 and that the situation constituted an event of force majeure.”
Bengaluru FC faced Nepal’s Tribhuwan Army FC on April 14 in their AFC Cup Preliminary Stage and won that match 5-0 which ensured their place in the play-off.
Since Abahani, who were set to play Bengaluru, have withdrawn from the tournament, the Blues will now face Club Eagles in the play-off.
The winner of that match will join ISL club ATK Mohun Bagan, Basundhara Kings and Mazio S&RC in Group D of the AFC Cup 2021.
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