AFC Release Statement on Mohun Bagan Not Travelling to Iran for ACL Two Match: What Happens Now?

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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) released an official statement on October 1 regarding Mohun Bagan Super Giant's decision not to travel to Iran for their AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 group stage match against Tractor SC.

The match was set to be played on October 2 at the Yadegar Imam Stadium in Tabriz, but Mohun Bagan, citing safety concerns, opted not to travel. The tense political situation in the region escalated after the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on September 29.

This played a significant role in the club's decision. Iran declared a five-day mourning period following his death, further intensifying the situation. Out of concern for the safety of their 35-member contingent, which included players and staff, Mohun Bagan submitted letters to the AFC.

They requested either a change of venue or a rescheduling of the match. However, the AFC's statement did not provide clarity on the next steps regarding the match. The AFC only confirmed they were aware of Mohun Bagan's intentions but did not outline any immediate course of action.

The AFC 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 TwoTM 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."

While the AFC has not yet disclosed its decision on whether the match will be forfeited, Mohun Bagan faces potential sanctions for failing to fulfill their fixture obligations. If found guilty of violating AFC competition rules, the club could face severe penalties.

Firstly, they could receive a fine of up to $50,000 for failing to comply with match arrangements. Additionally, the AFC might suspend Mohun Bagan from this season's AFC Champions League Two, which would eliminate them from the tournament.

Beyond the current edition, the club could also face a ban from at least one future season of the competition, even if they qualify by winning the Indian Super League (ISL) shield this season. As of now, fans are eagerly awaiting further communication from the AFC.