 "Mohun Bagan say AFC 'recognises' decision to skip Champions League Two match in Iran as case of ‘force majeure’")
There was some good news in store for Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Saturday with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) informing the club that there would be no penalty or fine imposed on them for skipping Champions League Two match in Iran last month.
According to Mohun Bagan, AFC has “recognised” the club’s concerns with regards to playing a match in a country that faces the threat of war as a case of Force Majeure – a clause that frees a party from fulfilling their contractual obligations due to unforeseen circumstances that are beyond their control.
Read | Why Mohun Bagan made the right call by not travelling to Iran for Champions League Two match
Mohun Bagan, however, remain withdrawn from the tournament as a result of their decision.
“On 2nd November 2024, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has been communicated by the Asian Football Federation (AFC) that in response to the club’s appeal, the AFC Competitions Committee has decided to recognise the matters raised by Mohun Bagan SG as an event of force majeure,” the club said in a statement.
“Consequently penal consequences, as per clause 5.7 of AFC Champions League 2 Competition Regulations shall not apply to Mohun Bagan SG.”
“However, in terms of AFC Champions League 2 Competition Regulation clauses 5.5 and 5.6 even in case of force majeure events MBSG shall stand withdrawn from the tournament for ongoing season,” the statement further read.
Club Statement. #MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/T9tZAtsDiX
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) November 2, 2024
The Kolkata-based Indian Super League (ISL) club had refused to travel to Tabriz for their away Group A match against Iran Pro League club Tractor FC in the second-tier continental competition due to ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran. Mohun Bagan were scheduled to face Tractor FC on 2 October, a day after Iran launched ballistic missiles towards Israel .
Fearing a similar response from the Benjamin Netanyahu-led Israeli government, several Mohun Bagan players wrote to the club’s management voicing concerns over travelling to Iran for the match, as a result of which the match was cancelled.
The AFC, however, responded sternly by throwing the Kolkata giants out of the competition, with all of their previous matches in the competition being considered “null and void”.
Read | AFC favours Iran and Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr over Mohun Bagan, questions of 'bias' arise
“Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two”, the AFC said in a statement last month shortly after MBSG’s withdrawal.
“All matches played by Mohun Bagan Super Giant are cancelled and considered null and void. For the avoidance of doubt, no points and goals in the club’s matches shall be taken into consideration when determining the final rankings in Group A,” the Kuala Lumpur-based organisation added.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
