The 5th AFC Medical Conference has been postponed due to the outbreak of swine flu in India.

The decision was based upon the recommendation of the AFC Medical Committee and after consultation with the relevant authorities as well as FIFA.

The AFC was alarmed with the continuous rise in the number of individuals affected by swine flu (more than 25,000 cases) and in excess of 1,300 reported deaths. Unrecorded cases could surpass that figure and the United Arab Emirates has become the first country to advise its citizens to restrict travel to India.

Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan Singh, Chairman, AFC Medical Committee and Organising Committee of the 5th AFC Medical Conference said: “The AFC is concerned with the risk of exposure and safety of its delegates participating in the conference. It was not an easy decision to make bearing in mind the huge effort put into its organisation, the financial implications and disruption in travel and so on.”

A number of experts travelling to the conference had expressed their concerns and supported AFC’s action by echoing that “prevention and safety is important.”

(Report courtesy The Asian Football Confederation)