The Asian Football Confederation on Thursday announced that the AFC Cup 2020 will be cancelled, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

The competition had been suspended since March due to COVID-19 was originally scheduled to resume this month in centralized venues.

“These are tough times for everyone connected with football – and sport in general. We are taking steps to ensure the financial well-being of the AFC and its MAs,"said AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in the federation's website.

The AFC Solidarity Cup and AFC Futsal Club Championship UAE 2020 have also been cancelled.

• Asian football tournaments to go ahead this year, official says

The AFC Champions League, the continent's showpiece tournament, has been suspended since March but will resume in Qatar on September 14.

The AFC Futsal Championship has been pushed back to December.

“I am certain that with the unity and solidarity for which the AFC has become admired across football, we can overcome this latest challenge,” said Al Khalifa.

The decision came after a senior AFC official said the continent's top competitions will go ahead this year despite the pandemic, although games may have to be played behind closed doors.