QFA Plans to Hold Tournament during League's Break without Clubs Competing in AFC Champions League

Doha, February 28 (QNA) - Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Vice-Chairman of Qatar Football Association's (QFA) Competitions Committee and Executive Director of Competitions and Football Development at the Qatar Stars League (QSL), said, "The recent amendments to the league's schedule will witness a necessary period of suspension in March and April. It'll be an ideal preparatory time for the players of our first national team before they play in the European qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar in addition to the participation of our clubs in the AFC Champions League after the AFC announced its new dates, which'll be held during the period from 14th to 30th April." Abbassi said, "If the AFC Champions League matches are not held as scheduled in April, as the AFC has announced, then the 2020-21 football season will end on 30th April, as we announced previously." Abbassi explained, "Coordination and consultations are presently under way with all parties concerned in order to organize a tournament, where QNB Stars League and Second Division clubs will compete during the league's break in April, but without the Qatari clubs competing in the AFC Champions League. This tournament will be planned in such a way that the players and clubs are not adversely affected by the duration of the break, which will last around a month, and with the aim of making players remain fully prepared for the resumption of QNB Stars League. The interest of clubs and players remains our primary concern, especially since we're all moving in one direction of taking Qatar football further forward." (QNA)