Mohun Bagan foreigners indulge in altercation with fans over their refusal to travel to Iran

Mohun Bagan face a potential ban from the AFC club competitions.

The Mohun Bagan fans expressed their anger over the club’s decision not to travel to Iran for the AFC Champions League 2 fixtures. The players experienced the wrath of the fans as they were involved in an altercation with the fans outside the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday.

The fans demanded accountability and answers from the players as to why they refused to travel to Iran. This decision has put Mohun Bagan‘s continental future in jeopardy. The AFC can ban the Mariners for multiple years from the AFC club competitions.

Dimi Petratos responds

The altercation between the fans and the players mainly involved overseas players Dimitrios Petratos, Jason Cummings, and Jamie Maclaren. The players tried to reason out with exasperated fans and tried to put their point across. They cited the government advisories that prohibit nationals of particular countries from travelling to Iran.

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The players also reminded the fans that the club had requested the AFC to shift the match to a neutral venue, but their request was denied. The confederation moved with the scheduled fixture and gave a walkover win to Iran’s Sepahan SC.

After this incident, the Australian international Dimitrios Petratos took to social media and said, “I have always worn this jersey with pride and given my best for this club and will continue to do so. I will always defend my teammates in any situation. I give love and emotion always for this club – on and off the field.”

Also Read: What possible repercussions can Mohun Bagan face for skipping Sepahan SC clash in AFC Champions League Two?

Ban on Mohun Bagan

Mohun Bagan’s decision has not gone down well with the AFC. This has happened for the second time. The same situation arose last year when Mohun Bagan cited security reasons in the Middle East and did not travel to play against Iran’s Tractor club. Last year, the club was disqualified from the competition, but there were no other repercussions.

However, this time the matter can escalate. Mohun Bagan have violated Article 5.2 of the AFC tournament regulations with their decision. This violation can result in a multi-year ban from continental club competitions. The club’s disqualification will also affect India’s club rankings, with the direct slot in the ACL 2 at risk.

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