The Asian Football Confederation has banned Indian club Mohun Bagan Super Giant from its competitions. The governing body also imposed fines exceeding $100,000 following the club’s refusal to play in Iran.
Mohun Bagan declined to travel for an Asian Champions League Two group match in September.
The fixture was scheduled against Iranian club Sepahan at their home venue.
However, the Indian club cited serious security concerns ahead of the trip.
It also raised issues regarding medical insurance coverage for players and staff.
Following the no-show, the AFC disciplinary and ethics committee took strict action.
The committee banned Mohun Bagan from the next edition of the tournament.
The suspension extends up to the 2027–28 season, according to an official statement.
In addition, the AFC fined the club $50,000 for breaching competition regulations.
Mohun Bagan must also pay $50,729 to cover damages and operational losses.
These losses were reportedly incurred by both the AFC and Sepahan.
As a result, the AFC withdrew Mohun Bagan entirely from the competition.
Consequently, all matches involving the club were declared null and void.
Earlier, the club had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
It requested the match be moved to a neutral venue for safety reasons.
However, the court rejected the request, allowing the fixture to stand.
This was not the club’s first Iran-related withdrawal.
Last year, Mohun Bagan skipped a match against Tractor SC.
The decision came a day after Iran launched missiles toward Israel.
Founded over a century ago, Mohun Bagan remains one of Asia’s oldest football clubs.
Nevertheless, the latest sanctions mark a significant setback for the Indian side.
