Incredible outcome that observed in Iran this Monday evening where the Saudi club Al-Ittihad had to face Sepahan in the Asian Champions League.
Scheduled for 6 p.m. this Monday, the kickoff of the Asian C1 match between Sepahan SC and Al-Ittihad was ultimately never given. An improbable situation since the Saudi club did not agree to take part in the match organized at the Naghsh-e-Jahan stadium for political reasons.
According to the Saudi press, “ political elements that have nothing to do with football » motivated this decision by the club which this summer recruited the French Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté. The cause of this commotion? A bust of General Qassem Soleimani – a glorified military figure in Iran but very controversial in the rest of the Middle East – left on the edge of the lawn.
🚨 UNUSUAL
Al-Ittihad informed that the team would not enter the field unless all statues at the stadium entrances were removed. pic.twitter.com/vyhTpcXYTa
— Al Ittihad FR 🇫🇷 (@al_IttihadFR) October 2, 2023
In the evening, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) made the cancellation of the game official. due to unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances “. All while recalling the fundamentals in terms of safety of players, officials and spectators while the Iranian public present for the match reacted strongly to the announcement of the Saudi defection. The Al-Ittihad team bus as it left the stadium was reportedly subjected to projectiles.
