The Asian Football Confederation has switched its Champions League schedule to delay matches between clubs from Saudi Arabia and Iran amid diplomatic tension. The AFC says it set a March 15 deadline for "a return to normal relations" otherwise all matches between teams from the countries will be played at neutral venues. The governing body wants "to obtain independent evaluation on the safety and security situation" by mid-March. Matches in Iran for Saudi clubs Al-Hilal and Al-Nasr due on Feb. 24 and March 1, respectively, are now scheduled for May 3 and April 20. Qatar one win away from world stage Qatar is just one win away from qualifying for the Olympics but victory against South Korea at the AFC U23 championships Tuesday will mean more than a trip to Brazil. The tournament, which has been taking place in Doha for the past fortnight, is down to the final stages. Three of the four teams left in the competition — Japan and Iraq are the other two sides — will qualify for Rio if they win one of their next two matches, either in the semifinals or, for the losers, the third/fourth play-off. Japan and South Korea have made 15 Olympics appearances between them and not getting to Rio would represent failure. Iraq managed a fourth place in Greece in 2004, their only appearance. But Qatar has not qualified for the Olympics since the 1992 Games in Barcelona. An appearance in Brazil would not only represent a first Olympics for 24 years but also provide further proof that its huge investment in football on the pitch, as well as off it, is paying dividends. One of the many criticisms leveled at Qatar is that the tiny nation has no footballing pedigree. Internationally though, Qatar is undoubtedly improving. While, for many, the focus of Qatar and World Cups is 2022, the state has its eye on 2018. The current national side has a good chance of making history by becoming the first Qatari team to qualify for the World Cup, having breezed through its qualification for Russia so far with a 100 percent record. And success in the current under-23 tournament suggests the junior ranks are also improving. — Agencies
