Mohun Bagan Super Giant refuse to travel to Iran for AFC Champions League match due to safety concerns. Will they face sanctions? Read more about the latest updates!
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| Picture credit - ISL Media |
On October 1, 2024, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that Mohun Bagan Super Giant would not travel to Iran for their AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 group stage encounter against Tractor SC scheduled on 2nd October at the Yadegar Imam Stadium in Tabriz, owing to the increasing concerns about safety.
Why Refuses Mohun Bagan Super Giant To Travel?
The politics in Iran did not help, because it was in this climate that the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was announced on September 29. Iran declared five days of mourning, which only added to the tension being felt around the region. This situation had already generated significant concern among the traveling party of the Mohun Bagan team, who were 35-strong, including players and support staff.
The security risks due to such terrorist attacks have led the Kolkata-based club to send letters to the AFC for a change of venue or rescheduling of the match. Despite all this, however, there was no clear response on the part of AFC if the match would be rescheduled or forfeited.
AFC’s Official Statement
The AFC released a statement acknowledging Mohun Bagan's intentions, but stopped short of providing any immediate resolution. The statement read:
"The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken note of Mohun Bagan Super Giant's intentions not to travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the club's AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Group A fixture against Tractor SC, which is scheduled to take place on October 2, 2024, at the Yadegar Imam Stadium in Tabriz. The matter will be referred to the relevant AFC Committees with further updates to be communicated in due course."
This leaves the match in limbo, with fans eagerly awaiting a follow-up statement from the AFC regarding the next steps.
Potential Consequences for Mohun Bagan
Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s decision to not fulfill their fixture obligations could have serious repercussions. If the AFC determines that the club violated competition rules, Mohun Bagan could face sanctions. These include:
- Fines: The club could be fined up to $50,000 for failing to comply with match arrangements.
- Suspension from the Tournament: Mohun Bagan might be disqualified from this season’s AFC Champions League Two, forfeiting their place in the competition.
- Future Ban: The AFC could impose a ban, preventing the club from competing in at least one future edition of the AFC Champions League Two, even if they qualify through domestic success, such as winning the Indian Super League (ISL) shield this season.
