Iranian Soccer Club Penalized and Fined for Showcasing Bust of Slain Commander, Leading to Match Cancellation against Saudi Team

Iranian soccer club Sepahan has received sanctions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for their exhibition of a bust depicting a divisive general. This controversial figure, who was assassinated by the United States in 2020, prompted the cancellation of a scheduled match against a Saudi team. Al-Ittihad, the Saudi team, refused to play at Naghsh-e Jahan stadium in Isfahan, Iran, during the Asian Champions League. Their protest was in response to the presence of the bust, which portrayed Qasem Soleimani, the late commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, at the entrance of the pitch.

Soleimani is hailed as a martyr among Iranian hardliners, while in Saudi Arabia, he is considered a terrorist due to his support for Iran-backed militias in the Arab world. He is also widely despised for instigating instability throughout the region.

The AFCs Disciplinary and Ethics Committee recently imposed a range of sanctions on Sepahan for numerous violations of the disciplinary and ethics code set by the organization.

Al-Ittihad was awarded a 3-0 victory by the AFC due to the ruling that Sepahan must forfeit the match. Additionally, the Iranian club has been instructed to pay a fine of $200,000. As a consequence of their actions, Sepahan has also been banned from participating in their next three AFC competitions held at the Naghsh-e Jahan stadium. The AFC has cautioned that any future violations may result in even harsher penalties.

Sepahan, in a statement released on Thursday, vehemently disagrees with the decision and believes it has sufficient justification in this matter. The club raises several concerns related to the process and announces its intent to appeal the verdict to the appropriate legal body, emphasizing its commitment to earnestly pursue the appeal.

Sepahan plans to take the case to Switzerland's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in line with international regulations, aiming to assert its rights through this esteemed judicial authority. The incident in October highlighted the enduring disparities between the two nations that were once enemies, despite a China-mediated agreement in March that led to Tehran and Riyadh reconciling after over seven years of conflict.

The Quds Force, labeled as a terrorist organization by the US and Saudi Arabia, is an esteemed division responsible for managing Iran's international endeavors.

Soleimani, who gradually gained recognition, emerged as a pivotal figure within the unit and played a significant role in Iran's ventures throughout the Middle East. Saudi Arabia diligently strove to counter these endeavors for numerous years. However, in 2020, Soleimani met his demise in a US drone strike authorized by the former US President, Donald Trump.

Before the commencement of the October fixture, Al-Ittihad's players refused to participate in the match when their request to remove the bust was turned down by Sepahan officials. The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported that the referees had provided Iranian authorities with a 30-minute window to remove the bust.

A picture, obtained by AFP from the Iranian news agency Tasnim, showing Sepahan players leaving the pitch after the cancellation of the match in Isfahan, Iran.

Morteza Salehi/AFP/Getty Images

Mohammad Reza Saket, the head of Sepahan, expressed his surprise and disapproval of the unexpected request made by Al-Ittihad. He mentioned that the bust of the deceased commander had been exhibited in the stadium for two years and that Al-Ittihad was aware of this, as they had trained on the same pitch the night before the match.

Al-Ittihad currently leads Group C in the Asian Champions League, having secured three victories and accumulating nine points. In contrast, Sepahan currently sits in third place with four points.