Mohun Bagan Super Giant have been “considered withdrawn” from the ongoing season of the AFC Champions League after the Indian club refused to travel to Iran for their Group B clash with Tractor FC. Mohun Bagan had decided against sending their players to Iran citing their “safety and security” considering the situation in the Asian nation.
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Mohun Bagan were slated to take on Tractor FC on October 2 in what would have been their second fixture of 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2. However, their players were unwilling to travel to Tabriz after the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during an Israeli air strike in Lebanon.
“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the Asian Football Confederation (the “AFC”) confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two competition after the club failed to report to Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran, for their AFC Champions League Two Group A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,” the AFC said in a statement on Monday.
“Consequently, all matches played by 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,” it added.
The matter, AFC says, will be “referred to the relevant AFC Committee(s) as appropriate for their decision(s).”
In their first match of Group A, Mohun Bagan Super Giant had played out a goalless draw against Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan. Tractor FC lead the standings following a 3-0 win over Qatar’s Al-Wakrah SC.
Interestingly, the decision comes amidst reports of missiles flying over a stadium during an AFC Champions League match between Sepahan and Istiklol Dushanbe.
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