Kolkata, Dec 17: At a time when Indian football is staring at unprecedented uncertainty with its domestic season in limbo, the Asian Football Confederation on Wednesday delivered a triple blow to the country’s top club, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, slapping a continental ban and imposing fines to the tune of USD 100,729 (INR 91 lakh approximately) for withdrawing from the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two.
The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee ruled the reigning Indian Super League champions wrongfully withdrew from the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two following their refusal to travel to Iran for a group-stage match against Sepahan SC and handed one-season ban from AFC competition.
As part of the sanctions, the Mariners were “fined USD 50,000”, ordered to pay “USD 50,729 as compensation for damages and losses” claimed by the AFC and Sepahan SC, and “disqualified from participating in the next AFC club competition for which they would otherwise qualify, with the ban remaining effective up to and including the 2027-28 season”. (Agencies)
