By Mark Baber
January 11 – Rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia following the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, are spilling over into the political arena, with Saudi clubs keen for their fixtures against Iranian clubs in the Asian Champions League to be moved to neutral territory, whilst the Iran Football Federation (IFF) insists their country is safe to host matches and they are happy to play in Saudi Arabia.
Last week Saudi clubs Al-Ahli FC, Al-Hilal FC, Al-Ittihad FC and Al-Nasr FC issued statements demanding that they play Asian Champions League matches against Iranian clubs in neutral venues after the Saudi government decided to ban all travel to Iran in response to the attacks on its embassy in Tehran which followed the executions.
Now the IFF resident Ali Kafashian says that Iran is a safe country to host football matches, adding that “Saudi Arabia barred its citizens from traveling to Iran but sport has nothing to do with politics.”
Kafashian denied speculation that countries Qatar, Lebanon and Oman have been chosen as neutral venues for Iran and Saudi Arabian clubs matches, dispelling rumours (which had been reported in Egyptian media) and saying that the “Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has not yet issued any statement on this matter. First, we will wait for them to announce their decision on this matter, then we will make our decision.”
“Iran is a safe country and if the Saudi Arabian football officials don’t agree with it, must give evidence. We host Iraq and Afghanistan matches since Iran is not a dangerous place,” Kafashian added.
The head of Iran’s Premier League, Mehndi Taj, has threatened to file a complaint with the AFC saying: “Articles 3 and 4 of AFC assert that political issues should not be extended to football; this is not for the first time that Saudis take pretexts of this sort on their unethical pursuit. The best response is to play strong football on the field and to defeat Saudis on their own ground.”
It remains to be seen if there is a relaxation of tensions ahead of February’s scheduled meetings of Iranian and Saudi clubs which would allow the games to proceed as normal.
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