South Korea are among the teams to have qualified for the tournament ©Getty Images

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has joined calls for the age limit for the men’s football tournament to be adjusted following the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Confirmation of the postponement of Tokyo 2020 came on Tuesday (March 24), due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said the Olympics will be held “no later than the summer of 2021”.

The postponement could cause issues for the men’s football tournament, with teams restricted to under-23 players.

A maximum of three overage players are allowed in squads.

The KFA has requested the age limit be extended to under-24 players for the tournament, which would enable players who helped the team to qualify to participate.

The organisation wrote to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the IOC and FIFA to express its view.

"We'd like to ask you to take steps to ensure that players who secured the Olympic berth for their country will not be put at a disadvantage," the KFA wrote in a letter, according to the Yonhap news agency.

South Korea will feature as one of 16 teams in the men’s football competition next year at the Games.

South Korea qualified for the Olympics after winning the AFC Under-23 Championships earlier this year, where they overcame Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final.

A total of 11 players from the South Korean team would be ineligible for the event next year, should the age limit not be extended.

Australia and South Korea have both called for the age limit to be extended for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images
Australia and South Korea have both called for the age limit to be extended for Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive James Johnson had called for talks with FIFA and the IOC over the prospect of extending the age limit for the Olympic event earlier this week.

"Men’s football at the Olympics is an under-23 tournament but we would like to open up discussion with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to consider adjusting the men’s football tournament so that it becomes an under-24 tournament for the Tokyo Olympic Games," Johnson said.

"This would ensure the players who helped their nation qualify for the Games this year but might otherwise be ineligible for the tournament next year because of age restrictions, have an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of representing their country and becoming Olympians."

Hosts Japan will participate in the Olympic tournament, along with Australia and South Korea.

France, Germany, Spain, Romania, New Zealand, Egypt, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina and Brazil have qualified for the tournament.

A Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football Olympic qualifier will determine the final two participants.