Shanghai Port are forced to quit AFC Champions League due to Covid-19 lockdown

Shanghai Port will miss this year's Asian Champions League, with Covid-19 lockdowns in the city leaving the team unable to travel.

The Asian Football Confederation confirmed the withdrawal of Shanghai Port FC, adding that all matches involving the club will be cancelled.

Shanghai Port will not be replaced in the competition and just three teams will remain in Group J, including Hong Kong's Kitchee SC, Vissel Kobe from Japan and Chiangrai United from Thailand.

Shanghai, who reached the semi-finals of the AFC Cup in 2017, was due to kick-start their campaign on Saturday against Vissel Kobe in the northern Thai city of Buriram.

The remaining matches in Group J schedule will continue as planned, with Kitchee SC set to face Chiangrai United on April 16 while Vissel Kobe will open their campaign against Kitchee SC on April 19 at the Buriram Stadium.

The three teams will battle it out for the one automatic ticket to the next round, while the second-placed side will also have a chance to advance as one of the three best-placed runners-up.

Shanghai are the second Chinese club to pull out of the 2022 AFC Champions League after Changchun Yatai withdrew last month. Shandong Taishan and Guangzhou FC are the country's last two representatives.