Mohun Bagan Super Giant is believed to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2 after the Kolkata side decided not to travel to Iran to face Tractor FC, continental body AFC said on Monday, pending further decision on the matter. Keeping the “safety” of their players in mind, Mohun Bagan Super Giant had decided last month not to travel to Iran for the October 2 match due to the volatile situation prevailing in the West Asian country at the time.
“In accordance with Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League 2 2024/25 competition regulations, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirms that India's Mohun Bagan Super Giant is deemed to have withdrawn from the ACL 2 competition following the club's failure to report at Tabriz.. against Tractor FC on October 2, 2024,” the AFC said.
“Consequently, all matches played by Mohun Bagan SG will be canceled and deemed void in accordance with Article 5.6 of the Competition Rules. For the avoidance of doubt, points and goals scored in the club's matches will not be taken into account when determining the final rankings. in Group A in accordance with Article 8.3 of the Competition Regulations.” Mohun Bagan SG was scheduled to play Tractor FC on October 2 in their Group A match of the ACL 2 – the continent's second club competition – but their players indicated their unwillingness are to play in Iran, which had declared a state of mourning after the death of a prominent Revolutionary Guard general in an Israeli airstrike.
“The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC committee(s) depending on their decision(s),” the AFC said in the statement.
In their first match of Group A, Mohun Bagan played out a goalless draw against FC Ravshan of Tajikistan.
It was learned that 35 registered players, including seven foreigners, wrote to the club saying they did not want to go to Iran at that time.
“So we tagged their letters and wrote to the AFC, asking them to reschedule the match or shift the match to a neutral venue,” a source from Mohun Bagan had told PTI.
“We have decided not to travel to Iran keeping the safety and security of our players in mind as it is of utmost importance. We have also written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because their advice is that you can go to Iran or Israel on your own responsibility. .”
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