TEHRAN – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has penalized the Iranian football club Sepahan while it was Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad football club that refused to play the match in Iran.
The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee decided on Wednesday to penalize the Iranian Sepahan club by announcing the result of the undone match 3-0 for the Saudi club. The Iranian club will also be required to pay a fine of $200,000. Meanwhile, the Iranian squad has been banned from playing three matches at the AFC Champions League.
The AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group C match was slated to take place at the city’s Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium on Monday Oct. 2. However, the game was called off by the referee when the Saudi Al-Ittihad refused to play.
Sepahan Sport Club then issued a statement, saying they have prepared an official complaint, which will be filed with the AFC.
They added that the pitch had been inspected time and again by the AFC, the Iranian Football Federation and other relevant authorities, and had received their approval.
The AFC also issued a statement on the development, saying the match was canceled due to “unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances.”