BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
The organisers of the 2017 SEA Games football competition have announced a revised draw format for the competition, which may see hosts Malaysia being drawn in the same group as Myanmar and Indonesia.
According to a press statement from the Malaysian FA (FAM), a meeting held between the association, the Malaysian Olympic Council (MOM) and the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia SEA Games Organising Committee (MASOC) on Monday has agreed to tweak the draw, after several competing countries expressed their disagreement with the initial draw mechanism that had been proposed.
Under the new process, Malaysia as the hosts will not be drawn in the same group as 2015 gold medalists Thailand, with Malaysia placed in the A1 position in Group A, and the defending champions placed in the B1 position in Group B. Five teams will be in Group A, while Group B will be populated by six sides.
Pot 1 will contain 2015 silver-medal winners Myanmar and second runners up Vietnam, with the first team to be drawn placed in position A2, and the other team in B2.
Pot 2 will contain 2015 fourth-place finishers Indonesia, and Singapore, who finished the edition in third place in Group A, with the first team to be drawn placed in position A3, and the other team in B3.
Pot 3 will contain the remaining five teams; Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, East Timor and Brunei. These teams will be drawn into this arrangement; A4, B4, A5, B5 and B6.
According to the statement, the draw arrangement is the same as that which was used in the 2015 edition, which was hosted by Singapore.
It will be submitted for Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) approval, and if it is approved, the draw will be held this Saturday July 8.