No Penalty for Mohun Bagan’s Iran Withdrawal, AFC Confirms

Sayak Banerjee | 3-Nov 2024

Mohun Bagan’s decision to skip their AFC Champions League 2 fixture in Iran due to wartime instability has resulted in their withdrawal from the tournament. However, the AFC has confirmed that the club will not face any financial penalties or further sanctions, citing “circumstances beyond control.”

The Mariners were scheduled to play Tractor SC in Tabriz in early October. But escalating tensions, including Iran launching ballistic missiles toward Israel, created a war-like situation, making travel unsafe. Mohun Bagan’s players unanimously opposed traveling to Iran, emphasizing safety concerns in their formal appeal to the AFC.

While AFC acknowledged the extenuating circumstances, they enforced Rule 5.2, officially withdrawing Mohun Bagan from ACL 2 and nullifying their solitary point from the previous match. Though the decision spares Mohun Bagan from fines under Rule 5.7, the absence of alternative solutions, such as rescheduling, raises questions about the governing body’s stance.

This outcome highlights the challenges of balancing player safety with competition integrity, leaving lingering doubts over AFC’s crisis management.