TEHRAN -- An Iranian lawmaker on Wednesday criticized a double standard by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) over Iranian teams hosting matches in the Asian Champions League, saying the same security restrictions should apply to Arab teams.
Alireza Novin, a member of parliament representing Tabriz, said that if Tractor and other Iranian clubs were being denied home matches because of security concerns, the restrictions should also apply to clubs from Arab countries.
“If Tractor and other Iranian teams are to be deprived of hosting Champions League matches because of the shadow of war, this deprivation should also apply to teams from Arab countries, because the UAE and Saudi Arabia are currently under the missiles of Yemen’s Ansarullah,” Novin told reporters
He said the AFC’s decisions are “more political than football-related,” adding that Iran is not currently experiencing military conflict while some Arab countries face greater security concerns.
Novin urged Iran’s Football Federation not to accept the situation and called for legal and media measures against the AFC’s double standard.
“If Arab countries claim that our players are not safe in Iran, then Tractor players are also not safe in the UAE,” he said.
The draw for the 2026-27 Asian Champions League Elite group stage was held on Aug. 18.
Iranian champions Tractor were drawn against Qatar’s Al Sadd and Al Gharafa, the UAE’s Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli and Al Wasl, and Uzbekistan’s Neftchi and Pakhtakor.