Mohun Bagan has been handed a suspension by the Asian Football Confederation following the club’s decision not to travel to Iran for an AFC Champions League 2 fixture against Sepahan SC in September. The ruling bars the Indian Super League side from participating in all AFC competitions and also rules them out of next season’s Asian tournaments even if they qualify.
In addition to the suspension, the Kolkata-based club has been ordered to pay financial penalties exceeding USD 100,000. This includes a USD 50,000 fine along with USD 50,729 to cover damages and losses claimed by the AFC and Sepahan SC. The governing body has also cancelled any participation subsidy that Mohun Bagan would have received for the continental competition.
The club had approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport requesting that the fixture be shifted to a neutral venue due to security concerns. However, the appeal was rejected. Club officials stated that the decision was taken to prioritise player safety, citing concerns about ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
This is the second consecutive year Mohun Bagan have withdrawn from a match in Iran. In 2024, the club pulled out of a fixture against Tractor SC shortly after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Israel, which resulted in their withdrawal from that tournament as well.
Mohun Bagan are now exploring the option of appealing the latest AFC decision, while also indicating that they may clear the imposed fines. In a separate disciplinary action, FC Goa were fined USD 5,000 for failing to maintain stadium security during their AFC Champions League 2 group-stage match against Al Nassr after a pitch invasion incident.
