The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed an Asian Cup qualifier between North Korea and Malaysia amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The fixture was due to take place in North Korea's capital Pyongyang on March 28th.
However, the secretive state has banned Malaysians from leaving after it was blamed for the alleged murder of one of the North Korean leader's relatives.
Kim Jong-Nam, who was the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was apparently poisoned with a deadly toxin at Kuala Lumpur airport on February 13th.
He is believed to have been attacked with VX nerve agent - a chemical that can kill in minutes and is listed by the UN as a weapon of mass destruction.
The Malaysian Football Association had requested that the match be moved to a neutral venue and welcomed the AFC's decision to postpone the fixture in a statement on the FAM website.
"FAM welcomes the positive decision made by AFC as that is the best decision in view of the safety of the players and officials had the match went on as scheduled on the 28 March. This is because the diplomatic tension between North Korea and Malaysia still have not subsided," said general secretary Dato Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin.
"Regarding the new date and venue, FAM will follow whatever decision made by AFC and will give our support to the matter."
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