The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has imposed a two-season ban on Indian football club Mohun Bagan Super Giant for refusing to travel to Iran for an AFC Champions League (ACL) Two group-stage match against Sepahan SC in September. The suspension will remain in effect up to and including the 2027–28 season.
The decision was announced following a meeting of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, which found the Kolkata-based club guilty of violating Article 5 (Withdrawal from the Competition) of the ACL Two Competition Regulations. According to the AFC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant failed to fulfill a scheduled fixture after the group stage of the competition had already commenced, constituting a serious breach of tournament rules.
As part of the disciplinary measures, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has been disqualified from participating in the next AFC club competition for which it would otherwise be eligible. In addition, the club has been fined $50,000 for withdrawing from the group stage and ordered to pay a further $50,729 as compensation to Sepahan SC and the AFC for damages and financial losses incurred. The AFC has also directed the club to return the $300,000 participation fee if it has already been released.
This marks the second consecutive season in which Mohun Bagan Super Giant declined to travel to Iran for an ACL Two fixture. Last season, the club refused to play an away match against Tractor SC, which resulted in disqualification from the competition but did not attract further sanctions at the time.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant reportedly cited concerns over security conditions and the lack of adequate medical insurance coverage for players, including foreign nationals, as the reason for withdrawing from the competition. Media reports indicate that the club is now considering filing an appeal against the AFC’s suspension decision.