India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant has been banned from AFC club competitions and fined over $100,000 after refusing to play an away match in Iran during the AFC Champions League Two group stage. The decision was announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on December 18, 2025.
The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said Mohun Bagan’s refusal to travel for the match against Sepahan SC in September counts as a wrongful withdrawal. The club is now barred from all AFC competitions it qualifies for until the 2027‑28 season.
In addition to the ban, Mohun Bagan has been fined $50,000 and ordered to pay $50,729 to cover losses claimed by AFC and Sepahan SC. The team will also lose any participation subsidies from this season and must return any funds already received within 30 days.
The club cited security concerns and lack of proper medical insurance for players as the reason for not traveling. Many players are foreign nationals from Australia, Spain, and the UK, whose governments had advised against traveling to Iran. Mohun Bagan had also requested the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to move the match to a neutral venue, but the appeal was rejected.
This is not the first time the club has skipped a match in Iran. A similar withdrawal occurred in 2024 due to regional tensions and safety concerns.
The AFC has treated the missed match as a withdrawal, nullifying all group-stage results for Mohun Bagan. Club officials have said they are considering an appeal against the suspension.
The ban is a major setback for Indian club football, as one of the country’s top teams will be absent from continental competitions for several seasons, affecting both players and fans.
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