According to media reports, the Saudi Arabian football champions Al-Ittihad did not appear in the Champions League game against Sepahan FC in Isfahan in protest against the bust of a former high-ranking Iranian military officer.
The Asian Football Confederation announced that the game was canceled due to “unexpected and unforeseen circumstances”.
According to media reports, there was a bust of Ghassem Soleimani in the Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium. The Revolutionary Guard general was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq on January 3, 2020.
According to Arab News, Saudi players and officials refused to enter the stadium. English media such as “Mirror” and “Sun” also took up the topic.
European stars Karim Benzema, Jota and N’Golo Kanté are also under contract with Al-Ittihad.