Hazmats on, star players out as Asian Champions League returns

HONG KONG — Two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande will have to do without star man Paulinho as the delayed Asian Champions League East returns this week with a heavy schedule of games played in “bubble” conditions in Qatar.

Fifteen teams will race through 33 matches in a little over two weeks to complete the group stage, suspended because of the coronavirus since early March, with eight teams then playing the knockout phase to decide who reaches the December 19 final.

Shanghai SIPG players, including the former Chelsea midfielder Oscar, Asia’s most expensive player, arrived in full hazmat suits with face masks and protective glasses, illustrating the challenges facing the tournament.

Qatar, the 2022 World Cup host, has already successfully staged the West zone competition, won by Iran’s Persepolis who now await the East winner in the final.

But although Qatar was praised for its “smooth delivery” of the competition, it wasn’t trouble-free as defending champions Al Hilal were kicked out when a coronavirus outbreak left them unable to field enough players.

Players and officials must be tested before departure and on arrival in Qatar, and will undergo further tests every three to six days, the Asian Football Confederation said. Games will be played behind closed doors.

“All players and officials will also be put under a bio-secure bubble which limits their movement only to the hotel, stadium and training sites,” the AFC added.

According to the Beijing Youth Daily, all four Chinese teams are staying in the same hotel in Doha, with four floors each and separate dining areas to prevent mingling.

Player complaints

Evergrande are one of three Chinese sides who are yet to play a match in the competition, which was halted after a handful of games eight months ago as the pandemic advanced.

Coach Fabio Cannavaro, the 2006 Italian World Cup-winning captain, will be hoping to make amends after Evergrande lost their Chinese Super League title to Jiangsu Suning last week.

But they will have to do without Paulinho, the former Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and their top-scorer in the Chinese Super League, who is out with a thigh injury.

Captain Zheng Zhi, 40, is also ruled out for Evergrande, who begin their campaign against South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Sunday and also face Japan’s Vissel Kobe in Group G.

The group has been cut to three teams after Malaysian authorities refused to let Johor Darul Ta’zim leave the country, whose borders are closed to stop the spread of COVID-19.

In Group H, Shanghai SIPG play Sydney FC on Thursday before facing Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the 2006 and 2016 champions who are bidding for a trophy treble after winning the South Korean league and cup double.

SIPG have Brazilians Oscar and Hulk and Australia’s Aaron Mooy at their disposal, but former West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic was left out after travelling for internationals with Austria.

Beijing Guoan will similarly be without Cedric Bakambu after the forward flew off to play for Congo.

China’s football association urged Chinese teams not to bring players who have been on international duty, fearing possible coronavirus cases.

South Korea are one of several teams to run into problems during the international break, with goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo — who plays for Ulsan Hyundai in Group F — one of six players to test positive during their trip for friendlies in Austria.

Not everyone is happy about the decision to play the East Asian competition, featuring teams from Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand, in Qatar.

Global players union FIFPRO said players had complained about the risks of travelling, and that quarantine would interfere with family life, domestic games and training.