Iranian clubs announce their withdrawal from the AFC Champions League

Tehran-Sana

Iranian clubs participating in the 2020 Asian Champions League announced their withdrawal from the championship in protest against the AFC's decision to host its matches on neutral ground outside Iran.

The heads of the four Iranian clubs (Persepolis, Istiklal, Shahrakhudro and Sepahan) reached a unified decision not to participate in the AFC Champions League 2020 matches in protest against the dispossession of the right to host them through the controversial decision taken by the AFC and officially informed the Iranian Federation yesterday.

The heads of the four clubs stressed in a joint statement after discussing with the officials of the Iranian Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports that "the decision to withdraw comes in line with the interests of the country and in defense of the principle of security therein and to limit the intrusion of politics with sports decisions," stressing that it "will not be subject to the AFC decision in this regard and will not host Any club on neutral ground. ”