Al-Ittihad's Protest: Clash Over Iranian General Statue in Asian Champions League

A shocking incident occurred in the Asian Champions League on Monday when Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad refused to play their match against Iranian hosts Sepahan. The reason for their protest was a statue of a slain Iranian general that was placed near the entrance to the field.

Al-Ittihad, coached by former Premier League manager Nuno Espirito Santo and featuring world-class players like N’Golo Kante and Fabinho, did not leave their locker room, and the game was eventually canceled. About 60,000 fans were left disappointed and angry in the Naghsh-e Jahn Stadium in Isfahan, Iran.

The statue was a tribute to Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian military commander who was killed by a US drone strike in Iraq in January 2020. Soleimani was the leader of the Quds Force, a unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that conducts foreign operations. Many Iranians considered him a hero but a terrorist by Saudi Arabia and its allies.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have been rivals for decades, competing for influence and power in the Middle East. They have been involved in proxy wars in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon and have accused each other of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed and set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) allowed Saudi clubs to play in Iran this season for the first time since 2016, hoping to ease the political tensions through sports. However, the statue incident has shown that the animosity between the two nations is still very strong and could jeopardize the future of the competition.

The AFC said it was “deeply disappointed” by what happened and that it would refer the matter to its relevant committees. It also reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all participants in its tournaments.