India will host Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League encounter with Esteghlal of Tehran on Tuesday. The game shifted from its original location in Iran to the United Arab Emirates.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced in a surprise last Tuesday, that Esteghlal had to relocate their home fixture with Al-Nassr to Dubai due to security concerns in Iran.
The Reason of the decision
This decision comes in the wake of Mohun Bagan Super Giants of Kolkata being deemed to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two for their refusal to travel to Iran to play against Tractor SC earlier this month.
The ripple effect of security issues extends beyond Al-Nassr’s game; Tractor’s match against Ravshan of Tajikistan turned into an away fixture.
Moreover, Iran’s national team had to shift their World Cup qualifier against Qatar to Dubai on October 15.
A spokesperson for Mohun Bagan highlighted the significance of the AFC’s recognition of the volatile situation in Iran, emphasizing to the Associated Press the need for consistent standards in addressing geopolitical instability.
The club had expressed concerns about safety before deciding not to travel and has appealed the decision to the AFC committee in hopes of rejoining the tournament.
Al Nassr Situation
Al Nassr, with four points from the first two games, eyes a crucial victory to secure a spot in the second round.
The AFC Champions League now features two groups of 12 teams each.
They divided into west and east zones, with the top eight from each group advancing to the Round of 16.
In the Saudi Pro League, Al Nassr remains in contention, securing a 2-1 victory over Al-Shabab with a 97th-minute penalty from Ronaldo.
Coach Stefano Pioli acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains optimistic about their performance in the Asian Champions League.
Saudi Teams in AFC Champions League
Saudi Arabia dominates Group A with three of the top four teams.
Al-Hilal leads the group and is set to face defending champion Al Ain, possibly with Neymar returning after a year-long injury hiatus.
Meanwhile, Al-Ahli, also in top form, heads to Qatar to take on Al-Rayyan.
