AFC boots out Mohun Bagan from Asian Champions League for refusing to travel to Iran | Football News
The Asian Football Confederation on Monday announced that Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan SuperGiant were ‘considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two’ tournament after they did not travel to Iran for their Group B match against Tractor FC on October 2.
The statement released the Asian footballing body also stated that the Indian club’s withdrawal would mean all their points and goals would stand at null, as will all future group matches.
“In accordance with Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Competition Regulations (the “Competition Regulations”), the Asian Football Confederation (the “AFC”) confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two™ competition after the club failed to report to Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran, for their AFC Champions League Two™ Group A fixture against Tractor FC on October 2, 2024,” read the AFC statement released on Monday.
The statement also said, “Consequently, all matches played Mohun Bagan Super Giant are cancelled and considered null and void in accordance with Article 5.6 of the Competition Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, no points and goals in the club’s matches shall be taken into consideration when determining the final rankings in Group A pursuant to Article 8.3 of the Competition Regulations.”
Mohun Bagan refused to travel to Tabriz, citing security concerns owing to the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon. On the eve of their match, Iran launched a barrage of missiles towards Israel, escalating the tensions that have already gripped the region. Mohun Bagan had chosen to not send their team prior to the launch of the missiles.
