Mohan Bagan thrown out of AFC Champions League, Iran is the reason, here’s WHY…

New Delhi: Mohun Bagan Super Giant is thought to be to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2 after opting not to go back and forth to Iran for their match against Tractor FC, consistent with an announcement from the AFC on Monday, with a final decision still pending. The Kolkata-based club made this decision last month, prioritizing the “safety and security” of their players as a result of the the unstable conditions contained within the region at that point.

“In keeping with Article 5.2 of AFC Champions League 2 2024/25 Competition Regulations, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant are thought to be to have withdrawn from the ACL 2 competition after the club didn't report back to Tabriz … against Tractor FC on October 2, 2024,” the AFC said.

“For that reason, all matches played by Mohun Bagan SG are cancelled and thought to be null and void in accordance with Article 5.6 of Competition Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, no points and goals contained within the club’s matches shall be taken into consideration when determining the ultimate rankings in Group A pursuant to Article 8.3 of the Competition Regulations.”

Mohun Bagan SG became scheduled to play against Tractor FC on October 2 of their Group A match of the ACL 2—Asia’s 2nd-tier club competition. Nevertheless, the players expressed their reluctance to go back and forth to Iran, which had declared a state of mourning following the death of a prominent Revolutionary Guard general in an Israeli airstrike.

“The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committee(s) as appropriate for their decision(s),” the AFC said contained within the statement.

Of their opening Group A match, Mohun Bagan played to a goalless draw against Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan.

It became reported that each person 35 registered players, including seven foreign recruits, informed the club of their unwillingness to go back and forth to Iran at that point.

“So we tagged their letters and wrote to the AFC, asking them to either reschedule the match or move the sport to a neutral venue,” a Mohun Bagan source had told PTI.

“Now we have gotten got determined to not go back and forth to Iran keeping our players’ safety and security in mind, because that's paramount. Now we have gotten got also written to the ministry of external affairs as their advisory states which that you only can go to Iran or Israel to your own responsibility.”