Iranian clubs to not withdraw from ACL: Official
Iran’s deputy Foreign Minister for Arabic and African affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (file photo).
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Loading...Tasnim – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian announced that the Iranian football clubs are not going to withdraw from the AFC Champions League.
Following the weeks-long diplomatic dispute between Iran and Saudi Arabia, AFC Competitions Committee decided to amend the schedule for the 2016 AFC Champions League.
The AFC says it set a March 15 deadline for “a return to normal relations” otherwise all matches between teams from the countries will be played at neutral venues.
Afterward, Iran Football Federation Vice President Mehdi Taj said the Iranian teams will withdraw from AFC Champions League if the confederation changes the venues of Iran and Saudi Arabian teams matches.
At a joint meeting held in Iran’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Sunday, the officials emphasized that the Iranian football clubs are not going to withdraw from the competition and will host the Saudi Arabian teams at their home.
Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mahmoud Goudarzi, head of Iran Football Federation Ali Kaffashian, General Managers of Sepahan, Tractor Sazi and Naft Tehran, Mehdi Taj as well as Amir Abdollahian participated in the meeting.
