Tue Oct 22 16:36:28 UTC 2024: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has rescheduled several tournament matches due to security concerns in Iran, particularly affecting the Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giants. Key points include:

1. **Withdrawal of Mohun Bagan:** The Kolkata club requested to move their AFC Champions League Two match against Tractor, scheduled for October 2 in Tabriz, Iran. The AFC subsequently deemed them to have “withdrawn” from the tournament after they did not show up for the match.

2. **Revised Fixtures:** The AFC has altered the scheduling of matches involving Iranian teams:
– Tractor’s home match against Tajikistani club Ravshan on October 23 has been moved to Ravshan’s venue.
– Al Nassr’s game against Tehran-based Esteghlal is now set to take place at a neutral venue in Dubai.

3. **Context of Decision:** The AFC cited the “prevailing security situation” in Iran as the reason for these changes, following consultations with FIFA and other stakeholders.

4. **Impact on Mohun Bagan:** With Mohun Bagan’s withdrawal, they are no longer part of the group stage that includes teams like Tractor, Ravshan, and Qatar’s Al Wakrah. The AFC canceled all matches involving Mohun Bagan, declaring them null and void.

5. **Claims of Unequal Treatment:** Mohun Bagan has expressed their belief that they are being unfairly punished, stating that the AFC has not applied consistent standards in its treatment of clubs regarding the safety issues in Iran. They criticized the discrepancy between how their situation was handled compared to changes made for other teams.

6. **Ongoing Communication:** The Athletic has reached out to the AFC for further comments on the situation.

Overall, the security crisis in Iran has led to significant adjustments in Asian football tournaments while highlighting inconsistencies in how the AFC handles team withdrawals and venue changes.

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