Indian football club Mohun Bagan kicked out from Asian Champions League 2 due to stance on Iran
PTC News Desk: Mohun Bagan Super Giant has effectively withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2 after the Kolkata-based football club opted not to travel to Iran for their scheduled match against Tractor FC, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Monday. The decision stems from concerns regarding the "safety and security" of their players, particularly in light of the volatile situation in Iran at the time. The match was initially set for October 2.
The AFC stated, "In accordance with Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League 2 2024/25 Competition Regulations, the Asian Football Confederation confirms that India's Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn from the ACL 2 competition after the club failed to report to Tabriz to play against Tractor FC on October 2, 2024."
Following this decision, all matches played by Mohun Bagan SG have been declared null and void, as noted in Article 5.6 of the Competition Regulations. This means that no points or goals from Mohun Bagan’s matches will be considered when determining the final rankings in Group A, according to Article 8.3 of the Competition Regulations. The club's first match in Group A ended in a goalless draw against Tajikistan's FC Ravshan.
The players' reluctance to travel to Iran was significantly influenced by recent events in the country, which had declared a state of mourning after the death of a prominent general of the Revolutionary Guard due to an Israeli airstrike. It was reported that all 35 registered players, including seven foreign players, submitted letters expressing their unwillingness to travel to Iran at that time.
A source from Mohun Bagan stated, "So we tagged their letters and wrote to the AFC, asking them to either reschedule the match or move the game to a neutral venue." The club emphasized their commitment to player safety, stating, "We have decided not to travel to Iran keeping our players' safety and security in mind, because that is paramount. We have also written to the Ministry of External Affairs, as their advisory states that you can go to Iran or Israel at your own risk."
The AFC has indicated that the matter will now be referred to the appropriate committee for further decisions regarding the club’s withdrawal from the tournament.
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- With inputs from agencies
