Asian physique’s motion comes after ISL double winners’ determination to not journey to Iran for Tuesday’s match
File photograph of Mohun Bagan’s AFC Champions League 2 match in opposition to Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK on the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata earlier in September. (ANI)
“In accordance with Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Competition Regulations, the Asian Football Confederation confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant are thought-about to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 competitors after the membership did not report back to Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran, for his or her Group C fixture in opposition to Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC on 30 September 2025,” the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) mentioned on its web site on Tuesday.
“The matter will now be referred to the related AFC Committee(s) as acceptable for his or her determination(s).”
As per competitors rules, cancellation of any match besides within the case of Force Majeure can result in sanctions by the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee. They embody a superb of a minimum of $50,000 and a attainable ban from the competitors for a number of seasons.
The AFC message additionally mentioned the results of Mohun Bagan’s solely match within the competitors this season might be thought-about “null and void”. Mohun Bagan misplaced 0-1 to Ahal FK of Turkmenistan at dwelling on September 16.
AFC’s determination comes someday after the fiftieth anniversary of considered one of Mohun Bagan’s most humiliating defeats, a 0-5 loss to East Bengal within the 1975 IFA Shield closing.
On Saturday, Mohun Bagan, winners of the league and cup within the 2024-25 Indian Super League, approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport to “safeguard” their curiosity after stating that the security of gamers, employees and officers had led to the choice to not journey to Iran.
Two days after Mohun Bagan pulled out, an Asian Champions League Elite match was held in Tabriz, Iran, the place hosts Tractor FC had been held 0-0 by Abu Dhabi’s Al Wahda FC.
Reposting AFC’s message, a number of the membership’s followers took to the social media to criticise the choice to not journey. “As a Mohun Bagan fan I can’t recognise my membership. AFC ought to ban Mohun Bagan from AFC competitions indefinitely,” mentioned Saikat Burman on X. One person on X quoted Mehdi Taj, the Iran soccer federation president as saying “Our nation is secure. I really feel sorry for Mohun Bagan group…” The put up from Sepahan Ultras that “cowards usually are not allowed” was reposted by Bagan followers.
There had been X handles that identified that foreigners had been enjoying within the Persian Gulf Pro League. It was additionally identified {that a} match commissioner from Kolkata, Arunava Bhattacharya, has travelled to Tehran for an ACL2 match. {A photograph} of empty chairs meant for Bagan officers on the pre-match coordination assembly in Isfahan was posted on X by Iranian journalist Erfan Hoseiny on Monday. It was reposted by X handles claiming to be Bagan supporters on Tuesday after the AFC determination grew to become recognized.
Last yr, Bagan had refused to journey to Iran for his or her ACL2 match in opposition to Tractor FC citing security causes. AFC had scratched the membership however didn’t impose sanctions because the match was scheduled throughout an Iran-Israel battle.
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