A football match between Saudi and Iranian teams in the Asian Champions League has been called off due to the presence of a statue of former Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani at the entrance of the field.
A clash scheduled for Monday between Saudi’s Al Ittihad and Iran’s Sepahan was postponed after the Saudi team refused to leave the dressing room at the Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium in the Iranian city of Isfahan.
“The AFC reiterates its commitment towards ensuring the safety and security of the players, match officials, spectators, and all stakeholders involved,” the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a statement. “This matter will now be referred to the relevant committees.”
NEW — #Saudi football team @ittihad were meant to play Isfahan in #Iran tonight — but organizers placed a bust of Qassem #Soleimani at the entrance, where the players would run out onto the pitch.
Ittihad have left the stadium in protest, refusing to play. pic.twitter.com/tgqUAaqDbO
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) October 2, 2023
Soleimani – who commanded the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, its specialised Quds Force – played a central role in directing Iran’s activities across the Middle East for several decades before being assassinated by a US air strike in January 2020.
