Cancellation of Sepahan and Al-Ittihad Match Due to 'Presence of Soleimani Statue'; AFC: 'Unexpected Conditions'

Following the cancellation of the match between Sepahan Isfahan and Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the second week of the AFC Champions League, the Asian Football Confederation announced that the reason for the cancellation was 'unexpected and unforeseen conditions.' However, according to some reports, the reason for the Saudi team's decision was the 'presence of a statue of Qassem Soleimani,' the former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, at the Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium in Isfahan. The Saudi newspaper Arab News reported that the match between Al-Ittihad and Sepahan was officially canceled after the Saudi team and officials refused to enter the stadium where the statue of Qassem Soleimani was displayed. In its statement, the AFC emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of players, match officials, spectators, and all parties involved, stating that the matter would now be referred to the relevant committees. Based on videos shared on social media, Sepahan fans chanted 'We don't want football with politics' after the Al-Ittihad players left the field. Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, sporting events have been turned into a platform for disseminating government political propaganda. Previously, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan refused to attend a location where a photo of Qassem Soleimani was displayed during a press conference with Iranian officials. Many countries in the Middle East have expressed dissatisfaction and concern over Qassem Soleimani's activities and the IRGC, stating that his actions in support of militia groups have led to sectarianism and instability. The cancellation of the match between the Iranian and Saudi teams has sparked widespread reactions on social media. Sports journalist Hiwa Yousefi noted on 'X' that the game was to be broadcast on the Islamic Republic's television and that the host and analyst 'dare not mention the subject at all.' This match had other controversies as well. A stadium security officer admitted that 200 selected women were to be allowed into the stadium to avoid issues with the AFC. In recent decades, especially since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, women's presence in stadiums, particularly for football matches, has faced restrictions and prohibitions, to the extent that some women eager to watch football have been arrested or prosecuted for being present outside stadiums. Following serious warnings from international sports organizations to the Islamic Republic regarding the necessity of granting 'the right to enter stadiums' for women and the potential for serious sanctions against Iranian football if this was not implemented, women were finally allowed limited access in several cities, including Sirjan in Kerman province, in recent months. Brazilian Neymar arrived in Tehran with Al-Hilal; fans gathered at the airport to welcome him. There is a possibility of limited female spectator attendance at the Nassaji - Al-Hilal match in Tehran. There has been widespread reaction to Ronaldo's presence in Tehran, with criticism of the 'mismanagement' and 'poor governance' of officials.