Cristiano Ronaldo’s club Al-Nassr might get a direct exit from the Asian Champions League (ACL). Following Mohun Bagan’s recent expulsion from the AFC Champions League 2 due to their failure to travel for an away fixture in Iran (a war-facing country), a similar issue is brewing for Al Nassr. The Saudi Arabian club may face a challenging situation with its upcoming Asian Champions League (ACL) match against Iranian team Esteghlal, scheduled for October 22. The rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran, are creating concerns over the match’s safety and feasibility.
Al Nassr’s search for a neutral venue
Reports from Marca and AS Soccer suggest that Al Nassr is keen to move the match to a neutral venue. “We are monitoring the situation and will work on moving the match to a neutral venue,” an Al Nassr source revealed to Al Riyadiya. Despite these concerns, no official request has yet been made to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the change of location.
Previous incidents between Saudi and Iranian Clubs
This situation isn’t unusual. Back in 2016, the AFC had ordered that all matches between Saudi and Iranian clubs be played on neutral grounds due to the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. This rule was relaxed in the recent editions of the AFC Champions League, allowing clubs to host matches in their respective stadiums. However, the escalating political climate might force the AFC to reinstate the neutral venue rule once again.
Football continues amidst rising tensions
Despite the ongoing political unrest in the region, Iranian clubs like Persepolis and Sepahan have managed to continue their matches in Iran. For instance, Persepolis played a home game against Pakhtakor, an Uzbek club, and Sepahan hosted their match in Isfahan, even as missiles were reported flying overhead toward Israel. This resilience demonstrates that football in Iran, despite the volatile situation, continues uninterrupted.
Mohun Bagan’s disqualification due to safety concerns
The Indian club, Mohun Bagan, found itself in a similar position earlier. They were scheduled to play Iran’s Tractor FC in the AFC Champions League 2 but opted out of the match, citing safety and security concerns amidst the political unrest in the region. This decision led to their disqualification from the tournament.
According to the AFC, Mohun Bagan’s failure to report for their match in Iran resulted in the club’s expulsion from the tournament. “In accordance with Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 Competition Regulations, the AFC confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn,” the AFC’s statement read.
Following Mohun Bagan’s withdrawal, all their matches in the tournament have been declared null and void. This means that their results will not count toward the final rankings of Group A, and the matter will be further discussed by the AFC’s relevant committees to determine any further consequences.
The situations faced by Mohun Bagan and Al Nassr reflect how political unrest and security concerns are impacting football in the region. Whether Al Nassr can secure a neutral venue or face a similar fate as Mohun Bagan remains to be seen.
