Mohun Bagan Hit with AFC Ban and Heavy Fines After Refusing Iran Fixture

The Asian Football Confederation has delivered a severe blow to Indian football by banning Mohun Bagan Super Giant from all AFC competitions and imposing heavy financial penalties totaling over $100,000. The sanctions follow the Kolkata giants’ refusal to travel to Iran for an Asian Champions League Two group match against Sepahan SC in September 2025, citing security concerns and lack of proper insurance coverage for their players.

The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced its decision on December 17, 2025, finding Mohun Bagan guilty of breaching Article 5 (Withdrawal from the Competition) of the AFC Champions League Two Competition Regulations. The punishment represents one of the harshest penalties ever imposed on an Indian club, with far-reaching implications for the country’s football landscape.

Details of the AFC Ban and Financial Penalties

Mohun Bagan have been disqualified from participating in the next AFC club competition for which they would otherwise qualify, with the ban remaining in force up to and including the 2027-28 season. This means the club will miss at least one, and potentially two, continental campaigns depending on when they next achieve qualification.

The financial repercussions are equally substantial. The club has been fined $50,000 (approximately ₹42.5 lakh) for withdrawing from the group stage and ordered to pay an additional $50,729 (approximately ₹43.1 lakh) as compensation to Sepahan SC and the AFC for damages and losses incurred due to their no-show.

Furthermore, Mohun Bagan have forfeited all subsidies linked to their participation in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two season, including participation fees, performance bonuses, and travel subsidies. Any amounts already paid by the AFC must be repaid within 30 days of the decision being communicated. Cumulatively, the financial hit to the Kolkata-based club exceeds $400,000, approximately ₹3.6 crore.

The Sepahan Incident: What Happened in September

The controversy began when Mohun Bagan refused to travel to Isfahan, Iran, for their Group C fixture against Sepahan SC scheduled for September 30, 2025. The match was set to take place at the Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium, but the Indian champions made the decision not to board their flight three days before the scheduled tie.

In an official statement released on September 27, Mohun Bagan explained their position: “Mohun Bagan Super Giant prioritizes the safety and well-being of its players, officials, and support staff.” The club cited concerns about player safety, lack of security assurances, and inadequate medical insurance coverage as the primary reasons for their withdrawal.

The decision was particularly influenced by the composition of their squad. Mohun Bagan had five players from Australia, Spain, and the United Kingdom—countries whose governments have advised their citizens against travel to Iran due to ongoing security concerns in the Middle East region.

Before the scheduled match date, Mohun Bagan had approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) seeking an urgent application for provisional measures to move the fixture to a neutral venue. However, CAS refused to consider their request, leaving the club with no alternative pathway to fulfill the fixture while addressing their stated security concerns.

AFC’s Response and Tournament Withdrawal

On September 30, 2025, the AFC officially confirmed that Mohun Bagan Super Giant were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 competition. In accordance with Article 5.2 of the Competition Regulations, their previous match in the tournament—a 1-0 home defeat to Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC at Salt Lake Stadium on September 16—was declared null and void.

As stipulated under Articles 5.6 and 8.3 of the regulations, no points or goals from that match counted towards the final Group C standings. The matter was immediately referred to the AFC’s relevant committees for further decisions, which ultimately resulted in the December 17 sanctions.

Mohun Bagan’s scheduled matches against Jordan’s Al-Hussein SC on October 21 and the return fixture against Sepahan on December 23 were also called off following their withdrawal from the competition.

Historical Context: Second Consecutive Refusal

This incident marks the second consecutive season in which Mohun Bagan has declined to travel to Iran for an AFC Champions League Two fixture. In the 2024-25 campaign, the Mariners refused an away match against Tractor SC scheduled for October 2, 2024—notably, the day after Iran launched ballistic missiles towards Israel, significantly escalating tensions in the Middle East.

While that previous refusal resulted in disqualification from the tournament, Mohun Bagan avoided sanctions at the time after pleading their case to the AFC committee. However, the repetition of this scenario in consecutive seasons clearly influenced the AFC’s decision to impose much harsher penalties this time around.

The contrast in treatment from other clubs is notable. During the same September 2025 window when Mohun Bagan refused to travel, other AFC competition participants—including UAE’s Al Wahda and Bahrain’s Al Muharraq—successfully traveled to Iran for their fixtures. Additionally, Arunava Bhattacharya, a match commissioner from Kolkata, was present in Iran to officiate AFC games during this period.

Mohun Bagan’s Position and Appeal Plans

According to club officials quoted in various reports, Mohun Bagan are considering appealing against the suspension. The club maintains that their case is currently pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, where they have contested the AFC’s ruling and are hoping for a favorable outcome.

The club management has emphasized that the decision to withdraw was not taken lightly and was based on genuine concerns for player welfare. They pointed to official travel advisories from multiple Western governments warning their citizens against travel to Iran, which directly affected their foreign players’ willingness to make the journey.

A club official explained that six foreign players declined to travel to Iran following advisories from their respective countries. With such a significant portion of their squad unavailable, the club felt unable to field a competitive team for the fixture.

Impact on Indian Football

As one of the oldest and most prestigious football clubs in Asia, Mohun Bagan’s suspension represents a significant setback for Indian football’s continental ambitions. The club had earned direct entry into the AFC Champions League Two group stage after winning the Indian Super League Shield in the 2024-25 season—their highest achievement in recent years.

The ban means Mohun Bagan will be unable to participate in AFC competitions for at least one season, and potentially two depending on when the suspension takes effect. This not only denies the club valuable continental experience and exposure but also impacts India’s coefficient rankings in Asian football.

The financial penalties also raise questions about the sustainability of Indian clubs competing at the continental level when faced with difficult decisions regarding player safety versus competition obligations. The total financial burden exceeding ₹3.6 crore represents a substantial sum for Indian football clubs operating within the domestic league’s financial constraints.

Regional Security Concerns and Football

The incident highlights the broader challenge facing Asian football in navigating competitions across a geographically and politically diverse region. Iran has been a regular host of AFC competition matches for decades, but recent escalations in Middle Eastern conflicts have heightened security concerns for traveling teams and officials.

The situation is particularly complex given Iran’s involvement in regional tensions, including the June 2025 military exchanges with Israel that targeted nuclear facilities. While the AFC maintains that all host venues meet security standards for international competitions, individual clubs and their foreign players may have different risk assessments based on their home countries’ travel advisories.

Other clubs have continued to fulfill fixtures in Iran, suggesting that security concerns can be managed. However, the presence of foreign players from countries with active travel warnings creates a unique dilemma for clubs like Mohun Bagan.

What Happens Next?

The AFC’s decision stipulates that the fine and compensation must be paid within 30 days, regardless of any ongoing appeal to CAS. This puts immediate financial pressure on Mohun Bagan while they await the outcome of their legal challenge.

The CAS decision in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Mohun Bagan’s continental future can be salvaged or if the ban will remain in full effect. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the club faces the prospect of missing out on AFC competition opportunities until at least the 2028-29 season.

For the 2025-26 domestic season, Mohun Bagan can focus entirely on the Indian Super League and domestic cup competitions. However, the reputational damage and loss of continental experience could impact their ability to attract top talent and maintain their status as one of Indian football’s premier institutions.

Broader Implications for AFC Competitions

The harsh sanctions against Mohun Bagan send a clear message to all AFC competition participants: once the group stage commences, withdrawal for any reason will face severe consequences. The AFC appears determined to maintain the integrity and schedule of its competitions, even when clubs face genuine safety concerns.

This creates a precedent that may affect how future disputes over venue safety are handled. Clubs may be more reluctant to accept draws that include fixtures in politically sensitive regions, potentially complicating AFC’s efforts to maintain truly pan-Asian competitions.

The situation also raises questions about whether the AFC should develop more robust mechanisms for addressing legitimate security concerns before tournaments begin, rather than forcing clubs to choose between their competition obligations and duty of care to players and staff.

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