Mohun Bagan has been dramatically axed from the AFC Champions League Two for the second consecutive season after failing to show up for their scheduled match in Iran. The 136-year-old Indian football club’s participation in the prestigious Asian tournament came to an abrupt end when they withdrew from their away fixture against Sepahan FC, citing safety and security concerns.
Consequently, Mohun Bagan Super Giant was officially “considered to have withdrawn” from the 2025-26 competition by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after the team failed to report to Isfahan, Iran for their Group C match on September 30, 2025. This withdrawal occurred primarily because six foreign players refused to travel to Iran due to security advisories from their respective countries. According to the competition regulations, such cancelation can lead to severe sanctions, including a fine of at least $50,000 and a possible ban from future competitions. Furthermore, the result of Mohun Bagan’s only match this season—a 0-1 loss to Ahal FK of Turkmenistan—has been declared null and void.
Why did Mohun Bagan Super Giant refuse to travel to Iran?
“”Several communications were made to the AFC with copy to AIFF, however, no assurances (about the safety of the players) were provided. So, after a meeting involving all players and Indian staff, a collective decision was made not to travel — prioritizing their own safety and their responsibility toward their families.”” — Mohun Bagan Club Official (statement to PTI), Official spokesperson for Mohun Bagan Super Giant, representing club management
The Kolkata-based club’s refusal to travel stemmed primarily from safety concerns expressed by their entire roster, particularly their six foreign players who declined the trip following travel advisories from their respective countries. This decision came after a thorough team meeting where both international and Indian staff reached a unanimous conclusion prioritizing personal safety.
Several of Mohun Bagan’s foreign contingent hail from countries with strict travel warnings about Iran. Three players are Australian nationals, whose government explicitly advises “not to travel to Iran” citing possible terrorist attacks “without warning”. Additionally, team members from Spain, Scotland, and Portugal faced similar advisories from their governments, with Portugal “absolutely discouraging” any travel to Iran.
Initially, the club attempted diplomatic solutions by requesting the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to relocate the fixture, seeking “written assurance” regarding player safety. After multiple communications to both AFC and the All India Football Federation yielded “no assurances about player safety,” the club approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a “fair resolution”.
“Mohun Bagan Super Giant prioritizes the safety and well-being of its players, officials and support staff,” stated the club officially, noting that “players and their families have expressed concern over travel to Iran”.
How did AFC respond to the withdrawal?
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acted swiftly and decisively upon Mohun Bagan’s non-appearance in Iran. On Tuesday (30.09.2025), the continental governing body officially declared that Mohun Bagan Super Giant “are considered to have withdrawn” from the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two competition after failing to report to Isfahan for their scheduled Group C fixture.
In its formal statement, the AFC cited Article 5.2 of the competition regulations as the basis for this decision. Moreover, the regulatory body invoked Article 5.6, which mandates that “the previous match played by Mohun Bagan Super Giant is canceled and considered null and void”. This effectively erases the club’s 0-1 loss to Ahal FK of Turkmenistan from the official record.
The AFC further clarified that “no points and goals from the club’s previous match shall be taken into consideration when determining the final Group C standings”. This decision mirrors last year’s incident when Mohun Bagan similarly declined to travel to Iran to face Tractor SC of Tabriz, also citing security concerns.
The matter has now been referred to “the relevant AFC Committee(s) as appropriate for their decision(s)”. Potential sanctions could be severe—including a fine of at least INR 4,219,022.54 (approx.) and possibly a ban from the competition for one or more seasons. This incident marks the second consecutive year that Mohun Bagan has withdrawn from the continental tournament.
What are the broader implications for Indian football?
“”After careful consideration of the government advisories and the potential uncovered risks involved, and upholding the players’ sentiments, the club has approached the CAS to seek a fair resolution and safeguard its interests.”” — Mohun Bagan Super Giant (official club statement), Official statement from Mohun Bagan Super Giant football club
Mohun Bagan’s withdrawal poses significant long-term threats to Indian football’s standing in Asian competitions. Failure to fulfill fixture commitments could result in severe sanctions, potentially jeopardizing future participation of all Indian clubs in the AFC Champions League Two. This represents the second consecutive season an Indian club has faced such issues with Iranian fixtures.
The repercussions extend beyond Mohun Bagan Super Giant. This incident may negatively impact India’s AFC coefficient points, potentially affecting future club allocations in continental competitions. Though the club has approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport to “seek a fair resolution and safeguard its interests”, the damage to Indian football’s reputation remains considerable.
Notably, other teams from UAE and Bahrain have traveled to Iran with their full squads, highlighting a contrast in approach. Last season, Mumbai City FC was forced to play in Tehran without key foreign players under similar circumstances, establishing a concerning pattern for Indian clubs in politically sensitive regions.
Perhaps most telling is the unprecedented criticism from Mohun Bagan’s own supporters. For the first time, many fans have publicly opposed their club’s decision instead of defending it unconditionally, recognizing how these actions might diminish Indian football’s hard-earned progress on the continental stage.
Conclusion
Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s second consecutive withdrawal from the AFC Champions League Two undoubtedly marks a troubling pattern for Indian football on the continental stage. Their decision, though based on legitimate safety concerns, nevertheless carries severe consequences beyond the immediate disqualification. The club now faces potential fines exceeding ₹4.2 million and possibly a multi-season ban from AFC competitions.
Furthermore, this incident raises significant questions about how Indian clubs can navigate international tournaments when geopolitical tensions affect player safety. Despite Mohun Bagan’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the damage extends far beyond one club. Indian football’s hard-earned reputation stands diminished, especially considering teams from UAE and Bahrain successfully traveled to Iran with complete rosters.
Perhaps most telling, Mohun Bagan’s own supporters have broken their traditional unconditional support, instead criticizing this withdrawal. This unprecedented fan reaction highlights the gravity of the situation. Additionally, the potential reduction in India’s AFC coefficient points could affect qualification slots for all Indian clubs in future tournaments.
Overall, this situation creates a challenging precedent. Unless a workable solution emerges for navigating politically sensitive regions, Indian clubs may continue facing impossible choices between player safety and tournament obligations. Certainly, the coming months will prove crucial as both Mohun Bagan and Indian football authorities work toward preventing similar scenarios that threaten the nation’s standing in Asian football.
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