Reigning Indian Super League champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant has requested the Asian Football Confederation to shift its September 30 AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) fixture against Sepahan SC out of Iran, citing safety concerns.
The club has already applied for visas and made travel arrangements, but uncertainty persists over the participation of foreigners, Tom Aldred, Dimitri Petratos, Jamie Maclaren and Jason Cummings, as nationals from the UK and Australia face additional restrictions in Iran.
Sepahan manager, Mir Salehian, however, maintained that there was no problem. “Visas have been issued to every Mohun Bagan squad member, including their foreign players. There is no issue from our side,” he said.
The Mariners, who lost their ACL 2 opener to Ahal FK at the Salt Lake Stadium here on September 16, clarified that they were not refusing to travel, but want the AFC to address their concerns.
Failure to turn up could result in severe sanctions and jeopardise the future participation of Indian clubs in ACL 2. Last season, Mumbai City FC was forced to play in Tehran without key foreigners.
Mohun Bagan now faces two back-to-back away games against Sepahan on September 30 and Jordan’s Al Hussain on October 21.
Super Cup stance
Mohun Bagan has also written to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ahead of the upcoming Super Cup, requesting the organisers to restrict the foreign player quota to four instead of the proposed six.
It is learnt that the federation is planning to allow clubs to register and field up to six foreigners in this year’s edition. In response, Mohun Bagan has urged for a cap of four to ensure greater opportunities for the Indians.
The federation had earlier permitted six foreigners in the competition, primarily because several ISL’s top domestic players were away on national duty.
Mohun Bagan, in its letter, has cited AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey’s earlier remarks in support of their stance. Chaubey had said reducing the number of foreigners in domestic competitions would benefit the national team, and the club reiterated this in their letter.
Earlier this month, East Bengal, too, had written to the federation seeking clarity on the rule.
The group stage draw of the Super Cup is scheduled to be held virtually on Thursday. The tournament proper will kick off in Goa on October 25.
The Super Cup winner will earn a berth in the AFC Champions League 2 qualifiers for the 2026-27 season.
Published on Sep 24, 2025
Content Source: sportstar.thehindu.com