New Delhi: Since they won’t face additional sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation for refusal to play in their AFC Champions League Two game against Tractor SC in war-torn Iran due to security concerns, Mohun Bagan are now exploring legal options to recover expenses for their abandoned trip.
Having spent close to Rs 1 crore to make arrangements for the trip, including hotel bookings and air fare, the Indian Super League Shield champions didn’t travel to Tabriz in northwestern Iran for their away game on October 2, requesting the match to be played in a neutral venue.
That request wasn’t entertained though a similar request by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr was accepted as the Saudi Arabian club’s away game against Esteghlal on Oct 22 was moved to Dubai while switching Tractor’s home match against Ravshan on Oct 23 to be an away tie.
FIFA had also moved Iran’s World Cup qualifier that was scheduled for Oct 15 against Qatar to Dubai.
Bagan were subsequently deemed to have pulled out from the competition, with their point accrued from a goalless draw in their first group stage game against Tajikistan’s Ravshan Kulob chalked off.
As per tournament rules mentioned in article 5.7 of regulations, they also stared at a fine of at least $50,000 and disqualification from one or more seasons after withdrawing after commencement of the tournament’s group stage.
Club Statement. #MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/T9tZAtsDiX
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) November 2, 2024
‘Force majeure’
But after referring the matter to its disciplinary and ethics committee, the AFC’s competitions committee “…decided to recognise the matters raised by the Club to constitute an event of Force Majeure in connection with the Club’s withdrawal from the Competition”.
“Accordingly, the consequences set out in Articles 5.7 of the Regulations shall not apply to Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND),” the AFC’s secretary Dautk Windsor John said in a letter to his All India Football Federation counterpart Anilkumar Prabhakaran on November 1.
The AFC added that the tournament would proceed without any replacement for Bagan, whose matches are to be deemed cancelled and considered null and void.
The decisions of AFC’s competitions committee are final and not appealable as per the AFC though Bagan are free to lodge a case at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, which they are unlikely to do as their primary aim of avoiding heavy additional sanctions that could have spilled onto next season, has been achieved.
Since the AFC has viewed their stance as an act of ‘force majeure’, Bagan now believe they have a good case of appealing to recover the accrued costs, having informed of their every step to the AIFF, whose response has been muted on this matter so far.
“Yes, we are exploring legal remedies. Since the AFC has accepted our move as an act of force majeure, we are hopeful of a favourable response over expenses,” a source aware of the developments told News9 Sports.
Bagan had sent a letter signed by 35 players of their squad to the AFC to highlight security concerns and rued to be at the receiving end of AFC’s ‘unequal treatment’ in handling similar cases after being removed but are glad that their reasoning has been accepted though it didn’t give them a way back into the competition.
The AFC didn’t impose additional sanctions on Mohun Bagan for not travelling to Iran for their ACL 2 match against Tractor SC but barred them from playing in the ongoing competition Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
