Redraw for football competition postponed
The redraw for the men’s football competition at next month’s Asian Games that was scheduled for yesterday has been postponed to tomorrow.
The original draw was made earlier this month with Thailand paired in a tough group alongside Uzbekistan, Qatar and Bangladesh.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Palestine then complained that they were left out in the original draw although they had submitted their entries correctly according to the rules.
To solve the problem, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has asked the Asian Games host nation Indonesia to conduct a redraw.
The new draw will feature 26 teams for the Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from Aug 14-Sept 1 with the men’s football tournament kicking off on Aug 18.
Football Association of Thailand spokesman Patit Supapong said yesterday the new draw will be held tomorrow at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
The redraw could not be conducted yesterday because parties concerned needed time to prepare, he said.
Thailand have never won a medal in football in the Asian Games although they have finished fourth four times in 1990, 1998, 2002 and 2014.
The men’s football tournament in the Asian Games is limited to players under 23 years of age.
Meanwhile, Vietnam U23 coach Park Hang-Seo has announced his provisional squad of 30 ahead of the Asian Games.
The provisional squad feature Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Cong Phuong and Nguyen Quang Hai, who were members of the team who finished runners-up at the AFC U23 Championship in January.
POTS FOR DRAW
Pot 1: Indonesia (hosts), South Korea (champions), North Korea, Iraq, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Thailand
Pot 2: Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Palestine, China, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia and Bangladesh
Pot 3: Iran, Pakistan, Laos, Timor Leste, Nepal, Qatar, Bahrain and Syria
Pot 4: Taiwan and Myanmar