KUALA LUMPUR, April 11: Asian Games champions Iran will advance straight to round two of the 2004 Olympics qualifying tournament after Maldives declined to travel to Tehran citing security reasons, the Asian Football Confederation said Friday.

“Iran will advance straight to qualifying round two because of Maldives’ cancellation of the match,” AFC said in a statement.

The Football Association of Maldives informed AFC that the government had requested all Maldivians to refrain from travelling to the region because of the security situation in neighbouring Iraq. The first leg was to be held in Isfaban on April 12 with the return leg scheduled to be played in Male on April 19.—AFP