Report: China's men's football team to return home early

Players of China leave the field after their 2-1 loss to Syria in Group A in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, AFC in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, November 14, 2019. /VCG

China's men's national football team which are training in Dubai have decided to return home earlier than expected, according to Guangzhou Daily. The team will not be quarantined after they come back but will continue their training sessions in Xianghe of north China's Hebei Province.

China's original plan was to conduct their training in Dubai and Thailand before attending 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification in March. However, the outbreak and spreading of COVID-19 led to the postponing of the tournament to October.

In the end, the team cancelled their warm-up games in Dubai and decided to go home.

Though the national team are unlikely to play any game before October, Chinese players may soon get busy. According to Shandong TV Qilu Channel, the 2020 Chinese Football Association Super League (CSL) may begin in May.

Players of Beijing Guoan celebrate after scroing in the AFC Champions League game against Chiangrai United at Singha Stadium in Chiang Rai, Thailand, February 18, 2020. /VCG

Moreover, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) planned to hold the rest of the AFC Champions League group games in the East in May and June. Therefore, many Chinese players may have to play twice a week from May.

There are four Chinese clubs attending the AFC Champions League this season: Beijing Guoan, Shanghai Shenhua, Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG. So far, only Guoan have played a game, in which they defeated Chiangrai United 1-0. The other games have all been delayed because of COVID-19 and may happen in July.

Considering this above schedule may place a heavy burden on players, the CFA Cup may be cancelled in the new season and it would not be the first time. Back in 2008, the event was dropped for the sake of the Summer Olympics in Beijing.