The 2020 AFF Championship (officially AFF Suzuki Cup 2020[1] for sponsorship reasons) was the 13th edition of the AFF Championship, the football championship of nations affiliated to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), the 7th and the last edition under the name AFF Suzuki Cup.[2]
The final tournament was originally scheduled to run from 23 November to 31 December 2020.[3] However the tournament was postponed and rescheduled at least twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the tournament was first rescheduled to run from 11 April to 8 May 2021[4] and the schedule later pushed backed further to 5 December 2021 to 1 January 2022.[5]Singapore later was chosen for host this tournament in a centralized venue.[6]
The AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 was hosted in a centralized venue due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia. On 28 September 2021, it was announced that Singapore would host the tournament.[6] Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam also expressed interest in hosting the tournament.[9][10][11][12]
In the group stage of the competition proper, ten teams were drawn in two groups of five with single round-robin format. The top two teams of each group advance to the semi-finals.
The organizers preferred to hold the tournament under its original format, which featured two-leg home-and-away games.[4]Away goals rule wouldn't be applied.
Up to five substitutions may be allowed as per recommendation of FIFA.[13]
Nine teams automatically qualified to the AFF Championship final tournament; they were separated into their respective pots based on their performance of the last two editions. Brunei and Timor-Leste who were the two lowest-performing teams were supposed to play a match where the winner will secure a spot to the final tournament but Brunei withdrew citing the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]Australia applied to attend the 2020 AFF Championship but was rejected by the AFF.[15]
Due to non-compliance with conditions set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Thailand and Indonesia were not allowed to be represented by their national flags.[16][17]
The draw for the 2020 AFF Championship was originally set to be held on 10 August 2021[18] in Singapore but due to the enhanced COVID-19 restrictions in the country, the draw was postponed.[19] The draw was done virtually and held on 21 September 2021.[12][20] The pot placements followed each teams progress in the previous two editions.
At the time of the draw, the identity of the national team that secured qualification was unknown, as it was supposed to be contested between Brunei and Timor Leste. Timor Leste qualified to the group stage after the withdrawal of Brunei from the qualification play-off.[21]
Each team were allowed a preliminary squad of 50 players. A final squad of 30 players (three of whom must be goalkeepers) 23 players registered for each match.[citation needed]
Officials
The following officials were chosen for the competition.
In the final tournament, a player was suspended for the subsequent match in the competition for either getting red card or accumulating two yellow cards in two different matches.
In addition, 4 Indonesian players (Elkan Baggott, Victor Igbonefo, Rizky Ridho and Rizky Dwi Febrianto) were barred from the 2nd leg of the Indonesia-Thailand Final on 1 January 2022 for breaching COVID-19 safety measures by leaving the team hotel without authorisation.[23]
Tournament teams ranking
This table will show the ranking of teams throughout the tournament.
^ abcdefghijklDue to non-compliance with conditions set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Thailand was not allowed to be represented by its national flag. The sanctions took effect in October 2021.
^ abcdefghijklDue to non-compliance with conditions set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Indonesia was not allowed to be represented by its national flag. The sanctions took effect in October 2021.
^"Thailand loses right to host tournaments". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post Public Co. Ltd. Retrieved 25 November 2021. The country has also been denied the right to display its national flag at any such events (international football events).
Singapore
Thailand (6th title)
Indonesia
Safawi Rasid
Bienvenido Marañón
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