AFC Champions League: Al Ittihad refuse to play in Iran due to pitch-side statue
Al-Ittihad’s Asian Champions League match against Iran’s Sepahan was called off after the Saudi Pro League team refused to leave their dressing room.
The SPL club who have signed the likes of Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Fabinho, were opposed to a statue of an assassinated Iranian general being placed at the entrance to the pitch.
Moreover, around 60,000 fans were in the Naghsh-e Jahn Stadium in Isfahan, Iran, at that time awaiting kick-off.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said the game had been “cancelled due to unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances”.
“The AFC reiterates its commitment towards ensuring the safety and security of the players, match officials, spectators, and all stakeholders involved. This matter will now be referred to the relevant committees.” the body said in a statement.
Al Ittihad refuse to play in Iran due to Qasem Soleimani’s statue
Qasem Soleimani was a prominent general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was killed near Baghdad airport in a United States drone strike in January 2020 and is viewed as a martyr by the country’s ruling regime.
Images on social media showed a bust of Soleimani had been placed at the entrance to the pitch and would have been in full view of the players as they exited the tunnel.
Furthermore, Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been strained. Moreover, this year’s Asian Champions League is the first since 2016 in which clubs from both nations have been permitted to play one another home and away.
Matches between clubs from the two nations were previously played on neutral territory due to security concerns.
