The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has rescheduled all its tournament matches due to the security situation in Iran – Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giants “withdrew” from AFC competitions after refusing to play in the country.
Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan requested Asian football’s governing body to reschedule their AFC Champions League Two – the country’s second-tier competition – match against Tractor on October 2, which was due to be played in the Iranian city of Tabriz. Five days later, the AFC said the Indian club was “considered withdrawn” from the tournament due to its refusal to play in Iran.
Tractor’s home match against Tajikistani club Ravshan on October 23 has been changed to an ‘away’ match for the Iranian club, while Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Tehran-based Esteghlal has been moved to neutral venue Dubai. Has been given. – Where iranWorld Cup qualifier against Queue Was played last week.
The AFC said “after consultation” fifa And concerned stakeholders say the “existing security situation” in Iran was behind the decision to move the World Cup qualifiers to Dubai.
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Mohun Bagan was the only Indian representative among the 56 clubs in the top two AFC club competitions, but they will no longer participate in their group along with Qatar’s Tractor, Rawshan and Al Wakrah.
In a statement earlier this month, the AFC said Mohun Bagan was “deemed to be withdrawn” from the tournament after the club failed to report to Tabriz against Tractor.
The statement read: “Consequently, all matches played by Mohun Bagan SG are canceled and deemed void in accordance with Article 5.6 of the competition rules.”
Mohun Bagan have now said this reflects “unequal treatment” towards their club, who believe they have been unfairly punished.
In a statement to The Associated Press, the Kolkata club said: “The AFC has indeed recognized the volatility of the situation in Iran and, as such, has rescheduled or moved venues for a number of games.”
He said this represented “unequal treatment” as the AFC had “failed to apply the same standards” to Mohun Bagan.
athletic AFC has been contacted for comment.
(Morteza Nicoubzal/Nurfoto via Getty Images)
(TagstoTranslate)Iran(T)Champions League(T)International Football