Mohun Bagan thought of withdrawn from ACL 2: AFC

Gamers of Mohammedan Sporting Membership and Mohun Bagan Tremendous Giants vie for the ball through the Indian Tremendous League (ISL) 2024-25 match between Mohun Bagan SG and Mohammedan SC, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, Saturday, Oct 5, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: PTI

Mohun Bagan Tremendous Large are thought of to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2 after the Kolkata facet determined in opposition to travelling to Iran to face Tractor FC, the continental physique AFC mentioned on Monday, pending additional resolution on the matter.

Holding their gamers’ “security and safety” in thoughts, Mohun Bagan Tremendous Large had final month determined in opposition to travelling to Iran for the October 2 match owing to the risky scenario that prevailed within the west Asian nation at the moment.

“In accordance with Article 5.2 of AFC Champions League 2 2024/25 Competitors Laws, the Asian Soccer Confederation (AFC) confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Tremendous Large are thought of to have withdrawn from the ACL 2 competitors after the membership didn’t report back to Tabriz … in opposition to Tractor FC on October 2, 2024,” the AFC mentioned.

“Consequently, all matches performed by Mohun Bagan SG are cancelled and thought of null and void in accordance with Article 5.6 of Competitors Laws. For the avoidance of doubt, no factors and targets within the membership’s matches shall be considered when figuring out the ultimate rankings in Group A pursuant to Article 8.3 of the Competitors Laws.”

Mohun Bagan SG had been to play Tractor FC on October 2 of their Group A match of the ACL 2 — the continent’s second tier membership competitors — however their gamers expressed unwillingness to play in Iran, which had introduced a state of mourning following the loss of life of a outstanding normal of the Revolutionary Guard in an Israeli air strike.

“The matter will now be referred to the related AFC Committee(s) as acceptable for his or her resolution(s),” the AFC mentioned within the assertion.

Of their first match of Group A, Mohun Bagan had performed out a goalless draw in opposition to Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan.

It was learnt that 35 registered gamers, together with seven foreigners, wrote to the membership that they did not want to go to Iran at that cut-off date.

“So we tagged their letters and wrote to the AFC, asking them to both reschedule the match or transfer the sport to a impartial venue,” a Mohun Bagan supply had advised PTI.

“Now we have determined to not journey to Iran preserving our gamers’ security and safety in thoughts, as a result of that’s paramount. Now we have additionally written to the ministry of exterior affairs as their advisory states that you could go to Iran or Israel by yourself accountability.”