韩国首尔——尽管中东地区冲突仍在持续，亚洲杯组委会仍确认，原定于1月7日至2月5日举行的本届亚洲杯将如期在沙特阿拉伯举行。这一决定旨在回应外界对于球员与球迷安全问题的日益担忧。
JOHN DUERDEN SEOUL, South Korea — Asian Cup organizers have responded to increasing concerns over the safety of players and fans if the tournament goes ahead in Saudi Arabia by confirming plans for the Jan. 7-Feb. 5 continental championship remain on track despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
沙特组委会于周五发布声明称，他们正与亚洲足球联合会保持密切沟通。
The Saudi organizing committee issued a statement Friday saying it is continuing to coordinate closely with the Asian Football Confederation.
“各项组织与运营工作均按既定计划稳步推进，包括比赛场馆、配套设施及相关服务准备等，”沙特组委会表示，“我们的目标是为来自亚洲各地的参赛球队、球迷及媒体呈现一场世界水准的赛事，同时借助足球促进整个亚洲地区的团结。”
“Preparations across all organizational and operational areas are progressing according to the approved schedule, including work on venues, facilities and supporting services,” Saudi organizers said. “The focus remains on delivering a world-class tournament experience for participating teams, fans and media from across Asia, while bringing the continent together through football.”
此前，韩国职业足球运动员协会曾对伊朗支持的也门胡塞武装频繁袭击亚洲杯举办国的行为表示担忧。
South Korea’s Professional Footballers’ Association had earlier expressed concerns following a series of attacks on the Asian Cup host country by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
“中东地区的军事紧张局势与安全不稳定状况绝不可掉以轻心，”韩国球员工会主席李根镐在声明中说道，“我国国家队以及所有参加亚洲杯的球员的安全问题令人忧心。”
“The continued military tensions and security instability in the Middle East are issues that can never be taken lightly,” Lee Keun-ho, head of the South Korean player union, said in a statement. “The safety of our national team, as well as all players participating in the Asian Cup, is a serious concern.”
自一周多前起，胡塞武装对利雅得国际机场、沙特石油巨头阿美石油公司总部及其他航空、石油与军事设施发动多次袭击，已造成包括外国人在内的至少19人死亡。
At least 19 people, including foreigners, have been killed in more than a week of Houthi attacks targeting the Riyadh international airport , the headquarters of Saudi oil giant Aramco and other aviation, oil and military facilities across the kingdom.
作为2002年世界杯四强队伍，韩国队原定1月10日对阵也门队，但李根镐强调，这一比赛能否如期举行还需视安全状况而定。
South Korea, a World Cup semifinalist in 2002, is set to open against Yemen on Jan. 10 but only if, Lee added, it was deemed safe to do so.
“没有任何比赛的价值能凌驾于球员和足球迷的生命安全之上，”他说。“如果安全无法得到充分保障，所有可能性——包括是否应举办该项赛事——都必须经过审慎审查。”
“No competition’s value can take precedence over the lives and safety of players and football fans,” he said. “If safety cannot be sufficiently guaranteed, all possibilities — including whether the tournament should be held — must be carefully reviewed.”
周一，在沙特阿拉伯民防部门发布安全警报后，C罗效力的利雅得胜利队与乌兹别克斯坦的纳夫巴霍尔费尔干纳队之间的一场亚冠联赛比赛在利雅得被推迟。
An AFC Champions League game between Cristiano Ronaldo ‘s Al-Nassr and Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana was delayed on Monday in Riyadh after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued a security alert .
亚足联主席谢赫·萨尔曼·本·易卜拉欣·阿勒哈利法本周在苏黎世接受媒体采访时表示，如果有必要，亚洲杯可以推迟一年举行。
Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told media in Zurich this week that — if necessary — the Asian Cup could be postponed by one year.
“我们可以等到11月底再做决定，”萨尔曼说。“该地区的情况可能会在短时间内变好或变坏，关键是看事态如何发展。”
“We can wait until the end of November” to make a decision, Salman said. “Things can change very quickly for better or worse in the region, and it is a question of seeing what happens.”
“如果我们需要做出决定，我们就会做出决定，但如果有必要，我们可以将其推迟一年，至2028年举行。”查看美联社完整足球报道，请点击此处
“If we need to make a decision, then we will, but we could move it back a year to 2028 if we need to.”See AP’s full soccer coverage here