Al-Nassr’s upcoming AFC Champions League match against Esteghlal of Tehran, originally set for Tuesday, has been relocated to Dubai due to security concerns in Iran. This decision comes shortly after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giants had withdrawn from the league for similar reasons, choosing not to travel to Iran for their match against Tractor SC.
The venue change has raised eyebrows, especially in India, where Mohun Bagan had previously requested a change of location before ultimately pulling out of the tournament due to safety issues. An official from the club confirmed that they had been vocal about their concerns regarding the unsafe conditions in Iran.
In addition to Al-Nassr’s match, Tractor SC’s home game against Ravshan from Tajikistan has also been switched to an away game. Furthermore, Iran’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar is expected to be moved to Dubai as well, following the growing security concerns.
Al-Nassr is in a strong position in the tournament with four points from two matches and is aiming to advance to the second round. However, their coach, Stefano Pioli, has noted the challenge of managing the team with the busy schedule of multiple games.
This series of changes highlights the ongoing impact of security concerns on international football tournaments and the adjustments teams must make to ensure player safety.
