AFC accepts Lebanon's Asian Cup withdrawal request

MELBOURNE, Aug 3 (Reuters) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has accepted crisis-hit Lebanon's request to pull out of qualifying for the 2007 Asian Cup.

The Lebanese Football Association had sent a formal letter to the AFC on Monday requesting the withdrawal citing the ''tragic circumstances'' inflicted by Israel's bombardment.

The LFA said in its letter that Israeli attacks had left officials unable to contact several national team players, while the closure of Beirut's airport and heavy bomb damage to main roads made travelling to away games virtually impossible.

The AFC's Competitions Committee met in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and decided to accept the Lebanese request without penalty or sanction, the AFC said on its Web site.

Lebanon's 1-1 draw with Kuwait in Beirut in their opening qualifying match on Feb. 22 would be declared null and that Group D -- which also features Australia and Bahrain -- would continue as a three-team group, it added.

Israel launched its onslaught on Lebanon after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12.

REUTERS PM RN0913