Football

Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), a prominent Indian football club, has received recognition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for its withdrawal from the AFC Champions League 2 match against Tractor FC in Iran last month. The club cited concerns over player safety and security amidst the volatile situation in the West Asian nation.The AFC initially withdrew MBSG from the tournament pending a decision on the matter. However, after reviewing the club's appeal, the AFC Competitions Committee has now acknowledged the force majeure event. This means that MBSG will not face any penalties under clause 5.7 of the AFC Champions League 2 Competition Regulations.However, as per clauses 5.5 and 5.6 of the regulations, MBSG remains withdrawn from the tournament for the ongoing season. The club was scheduled to face Tractor FC on October 2 in a Group A match of the ACL, the continent's second-tier club competition.MBSG's decision to withdraw was prompted by the players' reluctance to travel to Iran following the death of a prominent general of the Revolutionary Guard in an Israeli air strike. The situation escalated with Iran launching missiles on Israel, heightening political tensions between the two countries.The AFC had previously rescheduled matches across its tournaments due to the security situation in Iran. However, MBSG accused the continental football body of "unequal treatment" after it was withdrawn from competitions while other matches were rescheduled.The recognition of MBSG's force majeure event by the AFC is a significant development. It acknowledges the club's concerns for player safety and security and ensures that it will not face any penalties for its withdrawal. However, MBSG's withdrawal from the tournament for the ongoing season remains a disappointment for the club and its fans.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, an Indian football club, has withdrawn from their AFC Champions League match against Tractor FC in Iran due to safety concerns amid the ongoing tensions in the region. The club's decision was prompted by the unwillingness of its players to travel to Iran following the death of a prominent Iranian general in an Israeli air strike.Mohun Bagan was scheduled to face Tractor FC on Wednesday in Tabriz, Iran. However, the club received letters from its 35 registered players, including seven foreigners, expressing their reluctance to play in Iran at this time. The players cited the volatile situation in the country and the state of mourning declared by the Iranian government."We have decided to not travel to Iran keeping our players' safety and security in mind, because that is paramount," said a Mohun Bagan source. "We have also written to the ministry of external affairs as their advisory states that you can go to Iran or Israel on your own responsibility."The club has requested the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to either reschedule the match or move it to a neutral venue. Mohun Bagan had booked flights and arranged hotel accommodation for the trip, but the safety concerns of its players took precedence.In their first match of Group A, Mohun Bagan played out a goalless draw against Tajikistan's FC Ravshan. Tractor FC leads the standings with a 3-0 win over Qatar's Al-Wakrah SC.The decision by Mohun Bagan highlights the challenges faced by sports teams traveling to regions with political instability. The safety and well-being of players and staff must always be the top priority, and clubs must make informed decisions based on the latest information and advice from relevant authorities.

Malaysian Footballer Faisal Halim Suffers Acid Burns in Shopping Mall AttackMalaysian national footballer Faisal Halim has become the victim of a horrific attack, sustaining second-degree burns after being splashed with acid at a shopping mall over the weekend. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Malaysian football community and has raised concerns about the safety of athletes.According to Najwan Halimi, a sports official in Selangor state, Faisal was attacked on Sunday in the Petaling Jaya district outside Kuala Lumpur. The 26-year-old winger for the Selangor Football Club suffered burns on his neck, shoulder, hands, and chest."I strongly condemn this violence and urge the police to bring the perpetrator to justice," Najwan said in a statement.Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan confirmed the arrest of a male suspect on Monday, but did not disclose a motive for the attack. A photo of Faisal with visible burn marks on his body has been circulating online, eliciting widespread sympathy and outrage.The attack on Faisal comes just three days after another national player, Akhyar Rashid, was injured in a robbery outside his home in the eastern state of Terengganu. Akhyar, 25, was struck with an iron rod by two unidentified suspects and suffered injuries to his head and leg that required stitches.Football Association of Malaysia president Hamidin Mohamad Amin expressed his dismay over both attacks. "The people of Malaysia pray that Akhyar and Faisal recover quickly and get back to action," he said.The incidents have highlighted the need for increased security measures for athletes in Malaysia. The authorities have been urged to investigate the motives behind the attacks and take appropriate action to prevent similar incidents in the future.