On Tuesday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced the postponement of four matches in the knockout stages of the Elite Champions League for the western region. This decision comes in light of the ongoing war initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran, which has resulted in increased tensions across multiple fronts in the Middle East. The AFC previously postponed the first leg matches of the knockout stages on Sunday due to these circumstances, demonstrating its concern for the safety of all involved stakeholders.

The AFC has declared that its primary priority is to ensure the safety and security of all parties, including players, teams, referees, partners, and fans. They reaffirmed their commitment to providing a safe environment for everyone. With the postponement announced for March 9 and 10, the AFC has indicated that updates regarding scheduling will be communicated in a timely manner, as the organization navigates these unprecedented challenges.

Despite the postponements for matches involving teams from the western section, the AFC confirmed that games featuring clubs from other areas of the continent will proceed as originally scheduled. This decision aims to balance safety concerns while still maintaining the tournament's progress as much as possible, while specific match-ups, such as the Iranian team Tractor Sazi facing UAE's Al Ahli, and others, have been directly affected by these recent geopolitical developments.