PLDC - According to an official announcement by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the three Iranian teams Tractor, Esteghlal, and Sepahan will host their opponents in the AFC competitions at neutral venues.
This decision was made following the unprecedented killing of Iranian citizens by the Islamic Republic in an attempt to suppress Iran’s national uprising, as well as warnings issued by foreign countries advising their citizens not to travel to Iran.
In a letter sent to the Iranian Football Federation, the AFC stated that Tractor, Esteghlal, and Sepahan, Iran’s representatives in the AFC Elite League and the AFC Champions League, are not permitted to host their Asian opponents inside Iran. However, due to the complete shutdown of the internet in Iran, officials of the Iranian Football Federation were unable to access the letter.
This marks the second time in the past two years that Iranian clubs have been stripped of their hosting rights.
Tractor, which is set to face Al Sadd in its seventh group-stage match of the AFC Elite League, must select an alternative venue to host the match.
Esteghlal will face Al Hussein of Jordan in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, while Sepahan will play against Al Ahli of Qatar.
