Ahal’s Decision to Play in Isfahan Refutes Mohun Bagan’s Claims

WANA (Oct 07) – The Turkmenistan football team Ahal has handed over its hosting of the match against Sepahan in the AFC Champions League to Isfahan, which has effectively countered earlier claims made by India’s Mohun Bagan.

According to the official AFC match calendar, Ahal—drawn in the same group as Sepahan—will play its fixture at Isfahan’s Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium. This decision follows a formal request by the Turkmen club, ensuring that Sepahan will face Ahal at home in both the home and away legs.

The AFC’s confirmation underscores the international body’s recognition of Iran’s safety standards and hosting capabilities. This comes in contrast to Mohun Bagan, who last week refused to travel to Iran for their corresponding group-stage fixture, citing “security concerns” in a formal request to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to relocate the match to a neutral venue.

After reviewing the situation, the AFC rejected Mohun Bagan’s request and affirmed Sepahan’s right to host the match in Isfahan. However, the Indian club still refused to play, resulting in their disqualification and removal from the competition in accordance with AFC disciplinary regulations.

AFC Cancels Sepahan vs. Mohun Bagan, Removes Indian Team. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Notably, Mohun Bagan had previously withdrawn from a fixture in Iran last year against Tractor SC, a decision that similarly led to a 3-0 default victory for the Iranian side.

Some experts say that as India and Israel maintain close political and trade relations, and India has been a strong supporter of Israel since the outbreak of the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and bilateral trade between the two countries reached $3.9 billion in 2024, this action could have been a political action in the context of security concerns.

Football experts note that Ahal’s willingness to travel to Iran, contrasted with Mohun Bagan’s refusal, highlights the professional approach and differing perspectives of the two clubs. Iran has repeatedly hosted international competitions in Asia, consistently guaranteeing the safety of visiting teams.

Despite certain claims regarding security concerns, AFC’s official approval and the presence of foreign clubs such as Al-Muharraq of Bahrain in Tehran, Al-Wahda of the UAE in Tabriz, and Ahal in Isfahan once again demonstrate Iran’s stable security and strong capacity to host major Asian sporting events.

Ahal’s Decision to Play in Isfahan Refutes Mohun Bagan’s Claims. Social media/ WANA News Agency