BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
The Asian Cup qualifiers group match between North Korea and Malaysia has been postponed again by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), from June 8.
The decision has been due to the recent political situation taking place in the hermit kingdom, according to a brief statement issued by AFC on Wednesday.
"The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided that because of the geo-political tension on the Korean Peninsula the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifying Final Round match between DPR Korea and Malaysia, scheduled for Pyongyang on June 8, 2017 should be postponed," issued AFC.
According to AFC, the Group B match will now be played on October 5 instead.
"The game will now be re-scheduled for the next best available FIFA match-day which is Thursday, October 5, 2017," explained the confederation.
The venue of the match will again be decided by AFC, after a number of matches and competitions that are scheduled to take place in North Korea.
"The AFC will closely monitor the safety and security position in coming months as well as the AFC Cup match between Kigwancha SC (DPR Korea) against Erchim FC (Mongolia) to be played May 31, 2017 as well as the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers - Group G to be hosted in Pyongyang, DPR Korea from July 19-23, 2017.
After those matches, the AFC will make a decision of the venue for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier on October 5, 2017," the statement went.
This will be the second time that the North Korea-Malaysia match has been postponed by AFC. The encounter had originally been scheduled for March, but heightened diplomatic tension between the two countries has led to its postponement to the June 8 date.
AFC at first announced that the June 8 match would take place at a neutral venue, but then rescinded the assurance and allowed North Korea to host the match.
The October 5 date means that Malaysia will face North Korea five days before their group match against Hong Kong at home.
