Iran football clubs pull out of Asian Champions League after hosting ban
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iran’s football teams have withdrawn from the Asian Champions League (AFC) after they were barred from hosting international matches.
Iran’s Football Federation announced on Friday it had been banned from hosting international matches. “The Football Federation received an official letter today from the AFC [Asian Football Confederation] announcing that the AFC Committee has decided to hold AFC Champions League matches hosted by Iranian teams in neutral countries,” read a statement on the federation’s website.
Spokesperson for the Football Federation said Iran’s sport minister had written to the AFC giving them the necessary security guarantees regarding Iran’s ability to host matches. “Iran has the full readiness to host teams and has proven this repeatedly in recent years,” said spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi.
Tehran hosted the 2018 AFC Champions League Final at its Azadi Stadium. Women were allowed to attend the match after a “historic” decision by the authorities to allow women into the stadium.
The managers of four Iranian clubs who play in the Asian Champions League – Persepolis, Sepahan, Esteghlal, and Shahr Khodro – met on Saturday, according to the federation.
The four clubs sent a letter to the AFC condemning the “political decision” and stating they would not participate in the League if they are not able to host games, according to Mehr News. Tasnim News subsequently reported that the teams had dropped out of the league.
The AFC did not give a reason for the ban.
On January 8, Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane shortly after the aircraft took off from Tehran airport, killing all 176 people on board. The airplane was mistaken for a missile while Iran’s defence systems were on high alert amid hostilities with the United States. Earlier that morning, Iran had fired ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases hosting American forces in retaliation for the US killing Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
In the wake of the tragedy, many airlines began avoiding Iranian airspace.
Iran’s Football Federation announced on Friday it had been banned from hosting international matches. “The Football Federation received an official letter today from the AFC [Asian Football Confederation] announcing that the AFC Committee has decided to hold AFC Champions League matches hosted by Iranian teams in neutral countries,” read a statement on the federation’s website.
Spokesperson for the Football Federation said Iran’s sport minister had written to the AFC giving them the necessary security guarantees regarding Iran’s ability to host matches. “Iran has the full readiness to host teams and has proven this repeatedly in recent years,” said spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi.
Tehran hosted the 2018 AFC Champions League Final at its Azadi Stadium. Women were allowed to attend the match after a “historic” decision by the authorities to allow women into the stadium.
The managers of four Iranian clubs who play in the Asian Champions League – Persepolis, Sepahan, Esteghlal, and Shahr Khodro – met on Saturday, according to the federation.
The four clubs sent a letter to the AFC condemning the “political decision” and stating they would not participate in the League if they are not able to host games, according to Mehr News. Tasnim News subsequently reported that the teams had dropped out of the league.
The AFC did not give a reason for the ban.
On January 8, Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane shortly after the aircraft took off from Tehran airport, killing all 176 people on board. The airplane was mistaken for a missile while Iran’s defence systems were on high alert amid hostilities with the United States. Earlier that morning, Iran had fired ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases hosting American forces in retaliation for the US killing Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
In the wake of the tragedy, many airlines began avoiding Iranian airspace.