Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the Indian football club, has been deemed to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2 after opting out of their match against Tractor FC in Iran. The decision, made last month, was driven by concerns for the safety and security of the players, considering the volatile situation in Iran at the time. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), citing Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League 2 2024/25 Competition Regulations, confirmed Mohun Bagan’s withdrawal due to their failure to travel to Tabriz for the match scheduled for October 2nd.
As a consequence of this withdrawal, all matches played by Mohun Bagan Super Giant have been cancelled and deemed invalid. This includes their opening draw against Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan. No points or goals scored by Mohun Bagan will be considered when determining the final standings in Group A, as stipulated by Article 8.3 of the Competition Regulations.
The club’s decision to forgo the match in Iran came amid a period of heightened tension in the country. Following the death of a prominent general of the Revolutionary Guard in an Israeli airstrike, Iran had declared a state of mourning. Mohun Bagan’s players expressed their reluctance to travel to Iran under these circumstances. The AFC has stated that the matter will be referred to the relevant AFC Committees for further action.
