The kick-off for the AFC Asian Cup 2011 Group D qualifier between China and Lebanon has been set for November 22, 2009 at the Zhejiang Yellow Dragon Sports Centre in east China’s Hangzhou.

Passionate football fans in Hangzhou and neighboring areas are eagerly awaiting the match despite chilly winds and snow storms in the region.

“I believe all Chinese football fans would like to watch the game on November 22. We wish the China National Team good luck,” said one unnamed football fan.

Cui Dalin, deputy minister of China's State General Administration of Sport, who warned players earlier that they could be banned for life if they were caught gambling or match-fixing, will also be watching the match.

“We’ve got news that Minister Cui will come to watch the match and we have reserved a special box for him,” according to an unnamed member with the organizing committee of the AFC Asian Cup 2011 Final Qualification Round in Hangzhou.

Together with Cui, a special team sent by the State Council will also visit Hangzhou to witness the game—not for fun, but for an investigation into whether gambling or match-fixing exists in the football field.

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification will see various countries take part to determine 10 spots in the final tournament in Qatar under the new qualification system set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Six teams have qualified automatically for the finals and will not take part in the qualifiers.

Host nation: Qatar

Top three finishers in the 2007 tournament: Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Korea

Winner of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup: India

Winner of the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup: not yet determined

By Charlie