In a significant development for Indian football, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has formally announced its decision not to travel to Isfahan, Iran, for their crucial AFC Champions League 2 fixture against Sepahan SC, originally slated for Tuesday. The club cited escalating security concerns as the primary reason for this difficult choice, and has subsequently escalated the matter by approaching the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to seek a just resolution and protect their club’s integrity.
A statement from the club emphasized their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of their entire contingent. ‘Mohun Bagan Super Giant prioritizes the safety and well-being of its players, officials, and support staff. Our players and their families have vocally expressed significant apprehension regarding travel to Iran,’ the statement read. It further detailed that ‘After careful consideration of both government advisories and the inherent, unaddressed risks involved, and crucially, respecting the sentiments of our players, the club has now formally approached the CAS. Our goal is to secure a fair resolution and rigorously safeguard our club’s interests.’
The reigning ISL champions were scheduled to depart for Iran early Sunday morning. However, mirroring a similar situation from the previous season, the team management made the difficult call to remain home, once again prioritizing the security of its players above all else.
This isn’t the first time Mohun Bagan has faced such a dilemma. Last season, the club similarly opted out of a match against Tractor SC in Tabriz, Iran, citing regional conflict and player safety. At that time, the AFC, the tournament’s organizing body, did not impose penalties, simply recording Mohun Bagan as ‘withdrawn’ from the competition. This latest decision effectively sees the team once again relinquish their AFC Champions League 2 prospects. The football community now waits anxiously to see if the AFC will repeat its previous stance or if Mohun Bagan will face disciplinary action for this second withdrawal.