Iran and Saudi Arabia ACL clubs to play in Oman, Qatar and UAE

AFC – KUALA LUMPUR, The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2016 matches involving clubs from Saudi Arabia and IR Iran will be played in Oman, Qatar, and the UAE.

The AFC Competitions Committee decided in January that the matches would be moved to neutral grounds if there had not been a return to normal relations between Saudi Arabia and IR Iran by March 15, 2016.

With no significant developments in the relationship between the two countries by the deadline, both the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the IR Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) were required to propose neutral venues for their clubs’ remaining fixtures.

After assessing the proposals submitted by both Member Associations, the AFC approved the IRIFF’s proposal to play their home matches in Oman and the SAFF’s proposal to move their matches to Qatar and the UAE.

The full details of the matches are listed below.

Group A – Match Day 5
April 20, 2016 Al Ittihad (KSA) vs. Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan (IRN)
Stadium: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Kick-off time: 1900 hrs

Group B – Match Day 5
April 20, 2016 Zobahan (IRN) vs. Al Nassr (KSA)
Stadium: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat,Oman
Kick-off time: 2030 hrs

Group B – Match Day 6
May 04, 2016 Al Nassr (KSA) vs. Zobahan (IRN)
Stadium: Rashid Stadium, Dubai, UAE
Kick-off time: 2115 hrs

Group C – Match Day 5
April 19, 2016 Al Hilal (KSA) vs. Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN)
Stadium: Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Kick-off time: 1835 hrs

The venues for the two remaining matches – Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan (IRN) vs. Al Ittihad (KSA) and Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN) vs. Al Hilal (KSA) – will be announced at a later date.