AFC Reverses Decision on Al-Nassr-Esteghlal Match, Mohun Bagan to Appeal
Two days after declaring Mohun Bagan Super Giant as withdrawn from the Asian Champions League 2 (ACL2) for not traveling to Iran, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reversed its decision regarding the match between Esteghlal FC and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. AFC has now instructed Esteghlal FC to find a “neutral” venue for the match, scheduled for October 22.
Mohun Bagan, who had appealed against AFC’s initial decision, is expected to cite this reversal in their appeal. “It does seem odd that Mohun Bagan were treated one way and Al-Nassr-Esteghlal another,” said a club official.
The decision to move the Esteghlal-Al-Nassr match out of Iran comes amid escalating conflict in West Asia. On October 1, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting concerns about the safety of traveling to the country.
Mohun Bagan had initially requested that their match against Esteghlal, scheduled for October 2 in Tabriz, Iran, be postponed or moved to a neutral venue. The club cited safety concerns raised by its players, who had signed a declaration expressing their reluctance to travel to Iran.
AFC initially responded by declaring Mohun Bagan as withdrawn from the tournament for failing to report for the match. However, the confederation’s decision regarding the Esteghlal-Al-Nassr match suggests a shift in its stance.
Mohun Bagan is now consulting lawyers and preparing to file an appeal against AFC’s decision. The club believes that the safety concerns raised by its players should have been taken into consideration.
The AFC’s decision to move the Esteghlal-Al-Nassr match out of Iran also affects another ACL2 match. The match between Tractor SC and Ravshan of Tajikistan, scheduled for November 7, will also be moved to a neutral venue.
