AFC changes Iranian referee for Champions League Semi-final match

Tehran Times – KUALA LUMPUR, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided to change Iranian referee Alireza Faghani for the Champions League semi-final second leg match between Al Ahli (UAE) and Al Hilal (KSA) after the Saudi officials asked to replace him with another referee.

Faghani was initially selected as the referee but then AFC replaced him with Bahraini referee Nawaf Shukralla.

“This substitution was good for me because it would have caused problem for me,” Faghani told reporters.

Faghani is a famous Iranian referee who has been on the international list since 2008. He was named as the fourth referee for the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Croatia.

He also officiated the 2014 AFC Champions League final first leg match between Al-Hilal and Western Sydney Wanderers.

Faghani also refereed the 2015 AFC Asian Cup final between Australia and South Korea.