There was confusion today about the status of this week's Asian Champions League match between Beijing Guoan and Nam Dinh with the Chinese club insisting it was making every effort to ensure the game goes ahead.
Earlier in the evening, the Asian Football Confederation announced on its official website that Wednesday's game at the Feng Tai Stadium had been cancelled after the home team failed to arrange for entry visas for the match officials.
According to the report, the Chinese Football Association and the host club had assured the three Iraqi officials - referee Auda Lazim Kadhum and assistants Subhi Adib Luay and Saeed Ahmed - that they would be given visas on arrival in China.
However all three were refused entry into the country when they landed in Beijing on Monday.
The Chinese government recently tightened their entry visa requirements due to security concerns ahead of this summer's Olympics.
The AFC then announced that the match has been cancelled and referred to their disciplinary committee, dealing a potentially massive blow to Beijing's chances of overhauling Japanese side Kashima Antlers for top spot in Group F.
The two sides are currently tied on nine points although Kashima have a vastly superior goal difference with matches to come against group minnows Krung Thai Bank of Thailand and Nam Dinh of Vietnam.
However, the AFC later withdrew the article from its website and reports in China indicated that steps were being taken to ensure the match went ahead.
According to Chinese internet portal sina.com, Beijing Guoan insisted they had faxed all necessary documents for the issue of entry visas to the AFC and the Iraqi officials should have been able to clear the immigration procedures after receiving visas from the Chinese embassy in their own country.
The club also said it was doing whatever it could to sort out the matter and were confident the game would go on as planned.
Sina.com quoted an unidentified Beijing Guoan official, who said the AFC could appoint three new match officials if the Iraqis were still not allowed into China.
"We still have two days to prepare and the game could still be be played according to the original plan as long as the referees arrive in Beijing by Wednesday," said the official.
According to the report, the Chinese Football Association and the host club had assured the three Iraqi officials - referee Auda Lazim Kadhum and assistants Subhi Adib Luay and Saeed Ahmed - that they would be given visas on arrival in China.
However all three were refused entry into the country when they landed in Beijing on Monday.
The Chinese government recently tightened their entry visa requirements due to security concerns ahead of this summer's Olympics.
The AFC then announced that the match has been cancelled and referred to their disciplinary committee, dealing a potentially massive blow to Beijing's chances of overhauling Japanese side Kashima Antlers for top spot in Group F.
The two sides are currently tied on nine points although Kashima have a vastly superior goal difference with matches to come against group minnows Krung Thai Bank of Thailand and Nam Dinh of Vietnam.
However, the AFC later withdrew the article from its website and reports in China indicated that steps were being taken to ensure the match went ahead.
According to Chinese internet portal sina.com, Beijing Guoan insisted they had faxed all necessary documents for the issue of entry visas to the AFC and the Iraqi officials should have been able to clear the immigration procedures after receiving visas from the Chinese embassy in their own country.
The club also said it was doing whatever it could to sort out the matter and were confident the game would go on as planned.
Sina.com quoted an unidentified Beijing Guoan official, who said the AFC could appoint three new match officials if the Iraqis were still not allowed into China.
"We still have two days to prepare and the game could still be be played according to the original plan as long as the referees arrive in Beijing by Wednesday," said the official.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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