Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia stays on track as safety fears grow amid Middle East conflict

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.The Saudi organizing committee issued a statement Friday saying it is continuing to coordinate closely with the Asian Football Confederation.“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.”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.“The continued military tensi