Breakup crisis between Iran and Saudi Arabia

The Sepahan-Al Ittihad match, which was expected to be played last night in Iran in the second week of the Asian Champions League, was canceled due to the Saudi Arabia team’s refusal to play in front of the bust of Qassem Soleimani in the stadium.

The Al Ittihad football team of Saudi Arabia, which went to the Nakshi Cihan stadium in Isfahan, Iran, gave up playing the match due to the presence of a bust of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, assassinated in 2020, at the exit of the tunnel. on the side of the field, while he comes to the field to warm up. When all the efforts of the AFC officials did not bear fruit, Al Ittihad returned to Saudi Arabia without playing the match.

AFC STATEMENT

The AFC statement stated that the scheduled Asian Champions League match between Sepahan and Al Ittihad was canceled due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstances. While Iranian club Sepahan announced that they would file a complaint with the AFC over the cancellation of the match, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation made a statement: “The Saudi Arabian Football Federation confirms that it provides its full support to national representative Al Ittihad Club and has taken all legal measures to protect the rights of the club.”

On the other hand, it was stated that Jorge Jesuslu, who was in Iran to play the Champions League match, called up Neymar’s Al Hilal to return to the country. It was said that Al Hilal will face the Nassaji Mazandaran team tonight. It is still unclear whether the match will be played or not. (DHA)