The Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) decision to relocate Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League match against Esteghlal Tehran from Iran to Dubai has infuriated Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giants.
The match, scheduled for Tuesday, was moved due to security concerns in Iran. However, Mohun Bagan feels hard done by, having been deemed “withdrawn” from the competition after refusing to travel to Iran for a match against Tractor SC on 2 October.
Mohun Bagan’s frustration stems from the AFC’s apparent double standards. The Indian Super League outfit had expressed concerns about player safety in Iran, only to see their match cancelled, while Al-Nassr’s fixture was relocated.
A Mohun Bagan spokesperson stated: “The club takes note that the AFC has recognised the volatility of the situation in Iran and as such has rescheduled or changed the venues of a number of matches”.
The statement went on to say that: “Not applying the same standard to Mohun Bagan would amount to unequal treatment by the AFC. We constantly communicate our concerns about the volatile and unsafe conditions in and around Iran, especially with regard to the safety of players and staff.”
The club is now seeking readmission to the Champions League tournament.
In related developments, Tractor SC’s next match against Ravshan has been rescheduled as an away game, and Iran’s national team will face Qatar in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Dubai on 15 October.
Al-Nassr, featuring Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, will face Esteghlal Tehran in Dubai on Tuesday.
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