THE ASIAN FOOTBALL Confederation have removed Mohun Bagan Super Giant were from the Asian Champions League Two (ACL2) for the second successive season after the 136-year-old club pulled out of Tuesday’s away tie to Iran’s Sepahan citing a lack of safety and security.
This is the second year running that Bagan refused to travel to Iran for an ACL2 qualifier (then it was against Tractor FC), citing similar reasons. And while last year, the AFC had scratched the club but did not impose sanctions as the match was scheduled in the aftermath of Israel’s attack on Iran, this time round there will be no such leniency.
Anticipating this, Bagan, winners of the league and cup in the 2024-25 Indian Super League, on Saturday approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport to “safeguard” their interest.
Repercussions in store
While being axed from the tournament is the immediate consequence of refusing to report for the match, Bagan now faces not just financial penalties, but potentially also a ban from future Asian continental tournaments.
With regard to fines, Mint noted that the AFC recently slapped a $10,000 fine on the Nepal Football Association for withdrawing from the 2026 AFC Futsal Cup qualifiers. A much harsher fine appears to be on the cards for the Mariners.
Mint further reports that Bagan has a history of clashes with the AFC: in the 1999-2000 season, The Mariners were slapped with a ban by the AFC for refusing play against Japanese side Jubilo Iwata FC after an 8-0 thrashing away from home. Humiliated in Japan, the Mariners simply refused to host the Japanese side for the second leg in Kolkata, prompting the AFC to hit the club with a three-year ban from AFC competitions and a fine.
After the club refused to pay the fine, the AFC banned all Indian clubs from participating in AFC competitions for two years.
