Soccer can be more than cruel sometimes. The chances of previous blunders catching up with you at the wrong time are high. One of Cristiano Ronaldo’s rival clubs is also feeling the sting of regret for a mistake they made a few years ago. The club is about to play the biggest soccer team in Asia currently and the fans are not allowed to enjoy it in person. Despite their willingness to pay a large fine, the wait is keeping them intrigued.
Al Nassr’s team is star-studded with Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Marcelo Brozovic, and a few others. The arrival of many elite players to Saudi has got Asian soccer fans excited, expecting to see them play in person. But sometimes the stars can be against you.
Asian club requesting to pay a fine instead of a fan ban
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Saudi’s Al Nassr will be playing their away game with Asian rivals in their first encounter of the AFC Champions League on 18th September. The AFC has banned Iranian team Persepolis FC from allowing any spectators in the stadium because of their social media post in April 2021. Regretting the incident, the club is asking AFC to lift the restriction for the match and is vicariously ready to pay a huge fine.
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يسعى نادي #بيرسبوليس لإقناع لجنة الانضباط في الاتحاد الآسيوي بدفع غرامة مالية كبيرة بدلاً من ( المنع الجماهيري ) لمباراة #النصر 🇸🇦 آسيوياً . pic.twitter.com/iMnihK33KP
— كورة | #النصر 🦁 (@9NFCBALL) September 10, 2023
AFC had given the ban in 2021 when a post from the club’s social media handle sparked an offense from the then-participating Indian club FC Goa.
The post stated that the past Iranian conquests and army were triumphant in their Indian campaigns and expected the same vigor against the Indian club. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) then filed a complaint with the AFC, which called for a ban on the club and stated that no crowds would be allowed in the stadium for its next home game.
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People also saw the club’s fans recently apologizing to fans of FC Goa, requesting them to take the complaint back. No wonder the occasion is so big, the fans are doing all they can to be a part of it and watch Ronaldo play.
Why is the ban still not over?
There are many things that are going around the club in Tehran. AFC announced the ban in 2021, but it still applies, as Persepolis FC did not play an AFC home game after the 2021-22 season. The club did not play in the 2022-23 season as there was some issue regarding the documentation and license hence the ban’s carry forward applies to this match.
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The AFC has yet to respond to the alternative proposed by the two-time Asian Championship finalists. With only a week left before the game, the club’s fans are eager to hear from either federation. The two teams are together with Al Duhail and Istiklol.