Bengaluru FC's upcoming AFC Cup play-off match against Eagles FC was on Sunday postponed indefinitely after three members of the visiting team violated Covid-19 protocols. The postponement comes after the host country's sports minister Ahmed Mahloof asked the ISL side to leave, citing breach of Covid-19 protocols, a sentiment echoed by club owner Parth Jindal. "Bengaluru FC's 2021 AFC Cup playoff stage clash against Eagles FC has been postponed until further notice, as confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation on Sunday. The club is making all arrangements to get all its players and staff home at the earliest," BFC said in a statement. The match was to take place on Tuesday.

The exact nature of the breach by BFC, which is captained by India skipper Sunil Chhetri, was not specified but sports minister Ahmed Mahloof termed it as "unacceptable". This was after reports emerged that some of the club's players were seen on a street at Male in violation of the quarantine rules. "Bengaluru FC would like to place on record an unconditional apology for a health and safety breach, involving one member of staff and two players, in the Maldives, on Saturday," it said in the statement. "The club will be dealing with this matter internally." Earlier, Jindal apologised for the "inexcusable behaviour of three foreign players/staff" and promised strictest action against them. Local media reported that BFC players, who had reached Maldives on Friday, were seen on the Male streets, which was not permitted as they were given special permission to be here despite the ban on tourists from India because of a Covid-19 surge there.