Australia has withdrawn Sydney FC, Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar from the 2021 Asian Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Friday.

"The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC committees, with a decision to be communicated in due course," the AFC said in a statement.

The AFC did not give a reason for the withdrawals but Australia's top flight A-League announced earlier on Friday it had rejigged its schedule because of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the southern state of Victoria.

The A-League's playoffs clash with the AFC's schedule.

According to the AFC schedule, Brisbane Roar will play the AFC Champions League preliminary round match against the Philippines club Kaya FC on June 20, and Melbourne City will play Japanese side Cezero Osaka the following day.

Sydney FC will play South Korea's Jeonbuk on June 25.