Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s ACL game moved amid Iran security fears

FILE - Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Cristiano Ronaldo reacts in a match with Iran’s Persepolis during their AFC Champions League soccer match at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi), File)

AP Soccer, October 21 — Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite game with Esteghlal of Tehran on Tuesday will be as closely watched in India as it is in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a statement released last Tuesday that Esteghlal had to move its home fixture with Al-Nassr to the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai due to the security situation in Iran.

The decision was greeted by surprise in India as, on Oct. 7, the AFC ruled that Mohun Bagan Super Giants of Kolkata had been “considered to have withdrawn” from the second tier AFC Champions League Two for refusing to travel to Iran to play its Oct. 2 fixture against Tractor SC in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

It is not only Al-Nassr’s game that has been relocated. Tractor’s home game against Ravshan of Tajikistan, scheduled for Wednesday, has been switched to become an away tie. Iran’s national team also had to move its Oct. 15 World Cup qualifier against Qatar to Dubai.

“...(Mohun Bagan) notes that the AFC has indeed recognised the volatility of the situation in Iran and as such, has rescheduled or shifted venues for several games,” a spokesperson for Mohun Bagan told Associated Press, adding that the confederation had taken the same geopolitical instability into account that the club had. “Failing to apply the same standard to Mohun Bagan would result in unequal treatment by the AFC.”

According to the spokesperson, Mohun Bagan had made a request to the AFC that the game’s date or venue be changed before it decided not to travel.

“We consistently communicated concerns about the volatile and unsafe conditions in and around Iran, particularly regarding the safety of players and staff,” the official added.

The Indian Super League club said that it had appealed the decision to the relevant AFC committee and hoped to be reinstated into the tournament.

The AFC did not reply to an invitation to comment.

Al-Nassr has four points from the first two games and can take a big step towards the second round with a win. The revamped tournament now consists of two groups of 12 — divided into west and east geographic zones — with the top eight from each advancing to the Round of 16.

Nassr is going well in the Saudi Pro League with a 97th minute penalty from Ronaldo giving the team a 2-1 win over Al-Shabab on Friday to stay in third place.

“There are a lot of games at the moment and it is not easy,” said Stefano Pioli, Al-Nassr’s coach. “We will do our best to maintain our performances in the Asian Champions League.”

Saudi Arabia has three of the four top teams in Group A. Al-Hilal is first and the four-time winner meets defending champion Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates and could welcome Neymar back to action after a year out through injury. Jeddah club Al-Ahli also has maximum points and travels to Qatar to face Al-Rayyan.

Front runners meet in Eastern Zone

In the eastern zone the top two meet. Gwangju FC of South Korea is making its first ever appearance in Asian competition and is the only team with two wins from two. It takes on Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia.

Australia’s Central Coast Mariners has lost both games so far and head to China to take on Shanghai Port, coached by former Australian international Kevin Muscat, also seeking a first win.

Last season’s defeated finalist Yokohama F. Marinos also travels to China and meets Shandong Tiashan while three-time winner Pohang Steelers of South Korea faces Thailand’s Buriram United.