Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL 2) after the Calcutta side decided against travelling to Iran to face Tractor FC, the continental body AFC said on Monday, pending further decision on the matter.

Keeping their players’ “safety and security” in mind, the Jose Molina-coached Mohun Bagan Super Giant had last month decided against travelling to Iran for the October 2 match due to the volatile situation that prevailed in the west Asian nation.

Bagan will appeal against the decision.

“In accordance with Article 5.2 of AFC Champions League 2 2024/25 Competition Regulations, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirms that India’s Mohun Bagan Super Giant are considered to have withdrawn from the ACL 2 competition after the club failed to report to Tabriz... against Tractor FC on October 2, 2024,” the AFC said.

“Consequently, all matches played by Mohun Bagan SG are cancelled and considered null and void in accordance with Article 5.6 of Competition Regulations. For the avoidance of doubt, no points and goals in the club’s matches shall be taken into consideration when determining the final rankings in Group A pursuant to Article 8.3 of the Competition Regulations.”

Mohun Bagan SG were to play Tractor FC on October 2 in their Group A match of the ACL 2 — the continent’s second tier club competition — but their players expressed unwillingness to play in Iran.

In ACL 1, Pakhtakor FC travelled to Tehran to play Persepolis FC on September 30 and Isfahan-based Sepahan FC hosted FC Istiklol of Tajikistan in ACL 2 the next day. During the Sepahan FC match, missiles launched toward Israel could be seen in the sky, but the game continued uninterrupted.