澳門足球總會日前宣佈因安全理由不派隊前往斯里蘭卡參戰世界盃亞洲區外圍賽第一圈次回合的賽事，讓首回合擁有1比0優勢的澳門足球代表隊痛失爭取晉級次圈的機會，原定於六月十一日舉行的次回合賽事現官方宣佈取消。儘管澳門很大機會成為首支二○二二卡塔爾世界盃首支出局隊伍，但目前國際足協及亞洲足協還未正式宣佈斯里蘭卡及澳門隊的晉級結果，澳足隊長艾美達周三（12日）早上公開發佈了致函國際足協及亞洲足協的信件，表達出澳足球員希望參賽的意願，懇請兩組織能重新安排次回合賽事，他在信件最後提及到偉大且美麗的足球不應在辦公室舉行，球員才是球場上最彌足珍貴的元素。

澳足隊長艾美達致函國際足協及亞洲足協，請求重新安排次回合賽事

球員只望拚盡一戰

    艾美達在致送國際足協及亞洲足協的信件中提及，明白足球賽須遵從規則及規章，但他認為足球的核心就是球員，也表達出澳足球員仍然希望參賽的意願。澳門在國際排名處於下游，但這場賽事正正是球員為地區、為市民、為球迷創造歷史的最佳機會。艾美達在信件中也提及亞洲足球發展在亞足協帶領下水平節節上升，澳門隊在二○一六年團結盃就勇奪亞軍，去年澳門球會參戰亞協盃小組賽也在六場中拿下四場勝仗，表現出澳門球員是如何努力並如何希望成為亞洲足球發展當中的一員。

艾美達於社交網站上公開信件

艾美達於在珠海運動場舉行的首回合賽事為球隊奮戰

請求重新安排賽事

    他請求國際足協及亞洲足協能重新安排次回合的賽事，允許澳門代表隊把握晉級機會，允許球員付出一切、拚盡所有。他最後提及偉大且美麗的足球不應在辦公室舉行，球員才是球場上最彌足珍貴的元素。

艾美達信件原文：

“Open letter to: FIFA and AFC 
Macau, 12 June 2019

Ref: Sri Lanka VS Macau (2nd leg, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round)

Dear FIFA and AFC authorities,

We the players are totally devastated with the cancellation of our 2nd leg match against Sri Lanka, in their Home ground due to the refusal of our Macau Football Association to travel.

Football is made of rules and regulations, which we understand, but above all, football is its players. And the Macau National Team players wanted more than anything, to be there and play the 2nd leg against Sri Lanka to dispute our chance on this qualifier. And having won the 1st leg we would start with a small advantage.

Being from a country which has a low FIFA Ranking, these matches are a lifetime opportunity to leave our mark on football history for our country and above all for our citizens and fans.

Football in Asia is growing rapidly due to the great work done by AFC, developing opportunities for lower ranking teams to participate more at National Team and club level.

Macau was actually 1st runner up of the AFC Solidarity Cup which happened in Malaysia in 2016.

In 2018 for the first time we had a Macau club represented in the AFC Cup group stage which ended the participation with 4 wins in 6 games.

This shows how hard the players are working and want to be integrated in the group of Asian countries developing in football.

We request FIFA and AFC, to please allow the Macau National Team players to fight for their chance on the field, by rescheduling the game. Please allow a chance for the players to give their hearts for this beautiful game.

Football is far too big and too beautiful to be played in the office. The field is where is should be played between the most valuable assets that it has, the players!

Nicholas Torrão

Captain of Macau National Team”