Indian Super League (ISL) club Mohun Bagan Super Giant has denied traveling to Iran for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League 2 clash due to security concerns, following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon.

The fixture between the Indian football giants and Iran-based Tractor SC was slated to take place at the Yadegar Imam Stadium in Tabriz on Wednesday.

“We have written several letters to the Asian Football Confederation and the All India Football Federation. We wrote to AFC yesterday as well that our players would have needed proper security and have already written to us saying they don’t want to go to Iran. In this situation when nobody wants to go, we have written to AFC for different solutions like shifting the match to a different place,” a Mohun Bagan official told The Indian Express.

“Three days ago, they (AFC) had written to us that the situation was okay and that the security situation was under control, but the situation has changed in the last three days. We are expecting a letter from them. We have made our arguments and given our proofs.”

The Kolkata-based club started their continental campaign with a goalless draw against Tajikistan League club Ravshan last month.

They likely will face sanctions after the match is forfeited with a 3-0 margin due to their absence, as per the AFC Champions League 2 rulebook.

The AFC will fine the club for $50,000 with a possible ban from the competition for multiple years.

“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken note of Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s intentions not to travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the club’s AFC Champions League Two 2024-25 Group A fixture against Tractor SC, which is scheduled to take place on October 2, 2024, at the Yadegar Imam Stadium in Tabriz,” the AFC said in a media release.