Citing “force majeure,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant recently revealed that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has recognised the club’s decision to pull out from their AFC Champions League 2 game against Tractor FC in Iran. Under rising Iranian tensions, the Kolkata-based club gave player safety a priority, which helped AFC approve their request.

Also Read: WATCH | Pant THROWS His Bat in Anger After Controversial Umpire’s Call

Mohun Bagan SG say AFC ‘recognised’ club’s decision to forego match in Iran

Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Saturday said the Asian Football Confederation has “recognised” the top Indian club’s pullout from their AFC Champions League 2 match in Iran last month as a case of force majeure.

Keeping the players’ “safety and security” in mind, Mohun Bagan SG last month decided to forgo their October 2 match against Tractor FC in Iran due to the volatile situation prevailing in the West Asian nation at the time.

The continental body reacted promptly and the Kolkata-based club was withdrawn from the tournament, pending further decision on the matter.

According to the MBSG, the AFC has now recognised their concerns but added the club remained withdrawn from the tournament.

However, the players expressed their unwillingness to travel to Iran, which was then in a state of mourning following the death of a prominent general of the Revolutionary Guard in an Israeli air strike.

Mohun Bagan had taken the decision to not travel to the country after Iran launched missiles on Israel, escalating political tensions between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the AFC had rescheduled matches across its tournaments due to the security situation in Iran, weeks after Mohun Bagan Super Giants were “withdrawn” from competitions, forcing the Indian club to accuse the continental football body of “unequal treatment”. 

(PTI)