Indian Super League champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant have withdrawn from their AFC Champions League 2 away fixture against Sepahan SC after six of their foreign players refused to travel to Iran citing safety concerns. The match was scheduled for Tuesday.
Players raise safety concerns
According to club officials, foreign players received advisories from their respective countries against travelling to Iran. Following discussions with the Indian players and staff, the squad collectively decided not to proceed with the trip. The team was originally slated to depart on Sunday morning after securing e-visas.
Club seeks CAS intervention
The club has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to seek a resolution. In its statement, Mohun Bagan emphasised that the safety and well-being of players, officials and support staff was the top priority, adding that it had considered government advisories before arriving at the decision.
Risk of sanctions
Mohun Bagan had opened its campaign with a 0-1 home defeat against Turkmenistan’s Ahal FK. It is now scheduled to face Jordan’s Al Hussain on October 21. Failure to appear in Iran, however, could attract sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and impact the participation of Indian clubs in future continental events.
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