NEW DELHI: Indian champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant have been banned from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competitions and fined over $100,000 after refusing to travel to Iran for an Asian Champions League Two match against Sepahan SC in September.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the AFC confirmed that its disciplinary and ethics committee has excluded Mohun Bagan from the next Asian competition they qualify for, with the ban extending up to the 2027–28 season. The club has been fined $50,000 and ordered to pay an additional $50,729 to cover damages and losses incurred by the AFC and Sepahan. They have also forfeited all participation subsidies for the continental tournament.
Mohun Bagan were withdrawn from the competition after citing concerns over security assurances and the lack of medical insurance coverage in Iran. Following their withdrawal, the AFC declared all of the club’s matches in the group stage null and void.
The decision marks a significant setback for one of India’s most successful clubs and highlights the strict stance taken by the AFC on competition commitments.
