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The dates of the AFC Cup quarterfinals (September 17/20) clash with the 2013 South Asian Football Federation Championships in Nepal, which would be played from September 20 to October 2, and this could lead to a club vs. country issue in India and the Maldives.Then two south Asian sides – East Bengal Club (India) and New Radiant SC (Maldives)- are set to play in the AFC Cup quarterfinals and a number of their players will be part of their respective national team squads.
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Earlier this year in March, the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Myanmar involving, amongst others, the hosts Myanmar and India had clashed with the AFC Cup group stage opening round, which led to the Indian and Myanmar clubs playing their opening round matches a week earlier.
Now the question has to be asked, why a regional championship like the SAFF Cup is planned on dates which could potentially clash with continental club engagements?
It will be interesting to see how the clash of dates will be sorted, as the clubs are likely to ask for a postponement of the SAFF Cup, which would then mean problems for national club engagements; and if the clubs move into the semifinals or even the finals, then a further clash of dates is possible.
