Iran Now Banned From Hosting International Soccer Matches

[Parsipride]

As if Iran's already near total isolation from the so-called international community amid crippling US sanctions wasn't enough, the country has now been banned from hosting foreign teams for soccer matches on its soil. It appears yet more fallout to the accidental shoot down of the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Jan. 8, which tragically killed all 176 people on board.

Iran says it was informed Friday by the Asian Football Confederation that it's essentially being sanctioned by the league:

Iran’s soccer federation said Friday it has been told it will not be hosting any international matches on Iranian soil.

The federation said it received a letter from the Asian Football Confederation saying that all matches involving Iranian teams will be held in a third country.

Iranian national team during 2018 FIFA World Cup. Image via Samaa TV


In recent years the UAE and Saudi national teams have refused to travel to Iran for matches, after both cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016, especially amid the inter-GCC row with Qatar, which has been accused of growing too close with Iran.

Interestingly, the United States team two weeks ago announced it canceled plans to attend a January training camp in Doha, Qatar due to the "developing situation" in the Middle East. The cancellation came a day after the US drone killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and after multiple Iranian statements declaring revenge is imminent against American interests in the region.



Soccer has long been an outlet where countries can "fight it out" safely and peacefully on the field even at the height of geopolitical tensions. However, it appears even the globe's oldest most popular sport is suffering setbacks due to spiraling tensions between the US and Iran.

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/4...m-hosting-international-soccer-matches-report

 

[HAIDER]

Qatar World Cup in danger. UAE already in court against Qatar after loss of 4.0 in Asian Cup in UAE.

 

[Sineva]

As if Iran's already near total isolation from the so-called international community amid crippling US sanctions wasn't enough, the country has now been banned from hosting foreign teams for soccer matches on its soil. It appears yet more fallout to the accidental shoot down of the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Jan. 8, which tragically killed all 176 people on board.

Iran says it was informed Friday by the Asian Football Confederation that it's essentially being sanctioned by the league:

Iran’s soccer federation said Friday it has been told it will not be hosting any international matches on Iranian soil.

The federation said it received a letter from the Asian Football Confederation saying that all matches involving Iranian teams will be held in a third country.

Iranian national team during 2018 FIFA World Cup. Image via Samaa TV


In recent years the UAE and Saudi national teams have refused to travel to Iran for matches, after both cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016, especially amid the inter-GCC row with Qatar, which has been accused of growing too close with Iran.

Interestingly, the United States team two weeks ago announced it canceled plans to attend a January training camp in Doha, Qatar due to the "developing situation" in the Middle East. The cancellation came a day after the US drone killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and after multiple Iranian statements declaring revenge is imminent against American interests in the region.



Soccer has long been an outlet where countries can "fight it out" safely and peacefully on the field even at the height of geopolitical tensions. However, it appears even the globe's oldest most popular sport is suffering setbacks due to spiraling tensions between the US and Iran.

https://thehill.com/homenews/news/4...m-hosting-international-soccer-matches-report

https://postofasia.com/iran-soccer-physique-slams-afc-ban-on-internet-hosting-worldwide-matches/
Federation chief Heidar Baharvand advised state TV that if the ban was not reversed, all groups would withdraw from the AFC Champions League.Iran has 4 groups – Persepolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan and Shahr Khodro – within the league.
https://twitter.com/hashtag/ACLneedIranFans?src=hash

I think iran withdrawing from the AFC is really the only smart move under the circumstances.The only other option would be legal action.

 

[zartosht]

Saudi arabia is a war zone with constant ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and suicide drones hitting their territory.

they are all ok, just take their cash under the table. but Iran is not safe?

 

[OldTwilight]

Kill Some AFC scum , others will take correct decisions

 

[Patriot786b2]

Saudi Arabia has to negotiate rogue Qatar administration than opposite straight of hormuz country Iran, the GCC block is laughing stock of duniya. They can't even host a trouble free sports event yet alone protect their own borders, which I probably think they will host an event afterall influx of mega $'s.

 

[graphican]

Was there international sports happening in iran before? Such gestures are symbolic only.

 

[masterchief_mirza]

Saudi arabia is a war zone with constant ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and suicide drones hitting their territory.

they are all ok, just take their cash under the table. but Iran is not safe?

Don't worry dude. My sympathies with Iranian sports fans but you'll get used to this horse crap. Pakistan has been deemed unsafe for cricket for a decade because of a particular country's leverage among the cricketing fraternity.

 

[mohsen]

AFC backtracked. Few threats would do the job!

 

[Hack-Hook]

AFC backtracked. Few threats would do the job!

Not exactly .
https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampprojec...https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51223659
The preliminary will be played on neutral soil .
The group fixture will be arranged so the first half will be played outside iran and second half afc will decide later.
If it was up to me I would have rejected it without hesitation.

 

[mohsen]

Not exactly .
https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/51223659?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE=#aoh=15797899260660&referrer=https://www.google.com&amp_tf=From %1$s&ampshare=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51223659
The preliminary will be played on neutral soil .
The group fixture will be arranged so the first half will be played outside iran and second half afc will decide later.
If it was up to me I would have rejected it without hesitation.

They say AFC has assured them the second half will be in Iran.

AFC Email to Iranian teams:

 

[TruthSeeker]

How could any team trust that Iran would not take some of its members as hostages for misguided "leverage"? Iran cannot be trusted to play honorably with others.

 

[Sineva]

How could any team trust that Iran would not take some of its members as hostages for misguided "leverage"? Iran cannot be trusted to play honorably with others.

Do you mean as opposed to the west who,naturally of course,can be trusted to play "honorably"?[LOL!].
Thats a rather large glass house you`re living in there chum.
If iran simply wants leverage it needs look no further than the strait of hormuz through which one third of the worlds sea transported hydrocarbons pass,by comparison to that even the worlds most expensive pro soccer player barely rates a mention.

 

[Aramagedon]

The news is propaganda.

ACL Group Stage: Iranian Teams to Play at Home

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Esteghlal and Shahr Khodro from Iran will travel to the UAE to face their opponents at the AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage 2, but Persepolis and Sepahan will play at home in their group stage matches.


Iranian giant Esteghlal will meet Kuwait SC at the Alawir Stadium in Dubai on Saturday.

The winner of the match will advance to the Play-off round against Qatar's Al Rayyan SC on January 28 with the triumphant team taking its place in Group A alongside Al Wahda FSCC of the UAE, Iraq's Al Shorta and another team from the qualifying stages.

Shahr Khodro FC, who finished fourth in last season of the Persian Gulf Pro League, will play Bahrain’s Riffa at the Sharjah Stadium on Saturday.

The winner of the tie will qualify for the Play-off round against Qatar's Al Sailiya SC on January 28. The winning team will advance to Group B alongside Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia, the UAE's Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had previously banned Iran from hosting Champions League football matches for what it called security reasons.

In a meeting which was held in the Asian Football Confederation’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the general managers of the four Iranian clubs met with AFC General Secretary Dato' Windsor John and defended their stance.

Persepolis and Sepahan will host their home matches in Group C and D and Esteghlal and Shahr Khodro will host their opponents at home if they advance to group stage.