Mohun Bagan hit with AFC ban and $100,729 fine

Mohun Bagan were withdrawn from the competition after they refused to travel to Iran for group stage match and their matches were declared null and void by the AFC.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) banned Indian Super League (ISL) champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and slapped it with a hefty fine of $100,729 (INR 91 lakh approximately) for refusing to travel to Iran for League Two clash with Sepahan SC in September

The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee ruled that the Kolkata-based club wrongfully withdrew from the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two and handed one-season ban from AFC competition.

The committee also ruled that Mohun Bagan would forfeit all subsidies linked to their participation in the 2025-26 ACL Two season, including participation fees, performance bonuses and travel subsidies.

Mohun Bagan were withdrawn from the competition after they refused to travel to Iran for the group stage match, citing lack of security assurances and medical insurance coverage in Iran, and their matches were declared null and void by the AFC.

Mohun Bagan had five players from Australia, Spain and the United Kingdom, countries that had advised their citizens against travelling to Iran.

Any amount already paid by the AFC must be repaid within 30 days of the decision being communicated.

Terming the decision "biased", a Mohun Bagan official told PTI news agency that their matter is already pending at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the supreme or final arbitral body for resolving international sports-related legal disputes and they were "hoping for a resolution".

"It's a biased decision against our club; our matter is pending at CAS and we're hopeful of a resolution. However, the club may pay up the fines," he said.

The case had parallels with the previous season, when Mohun Bagan were similarly deemed withdrawn after failing to travel to Iran to face Tractor SC amid regional tensions but they had escaped sanction back then.

AIFF fined $1,000 for delayed restart

In a separate decision (VVC 20251217DC08), the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee fined the All India Football Federation $1,000 for delaying the restart of the second half during India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 final-round qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18, 2025.

The committee found that the AIFF’s representatives caused a delay of 1min and 43sec in the commencement of the second period, thereby breaching Article 2 (Official Countdown) of the AFC Competitions Operations Manual.

The AIFF was held guilty under Article 2.2 of the manual and ordered to settle the fine within 30 days, in accordance with Article 11.3 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code.

FC Goa fined $5,000 for security lapse

In another ruling (VVC 20251217DC19), the AFC committee imposed a fine of $5,000 on FC Goa for failing to ensure stadium safety during their AFC Champions League Two group-stage match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr on October 22.

The committee found FC Goa in violation of Article 64 (Organization of Matches) of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code after a spectator invaded the area surrounding the field of play following the match.

The AFC’s disciplinary action comes at a time when Indian football is grappling with deep administrative and structural paralysis.

The domestic season remains in limbo with no confirmation on the ISL, I-League or I-League 2, the country’s top three divisions.

The uncertainty follows the expiry of the 15-year agreement between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and the AIFF on December 8, leaving the future of the top-tier unresolved.

The ISL usually begins in September, while the I-League was scheduled to start on October 19, as per the federation’s own calendar.

(with inputs form agencies)