Four Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League fixtures have been postponed following the U.S. and Israeli military attack on Iran.
The AFC also confirmed fixtures in the federation’s Champions League Two and Challenge League, including the tie involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, had been postponed until further notice.
The federation announced on Sunday the AFC Champions League first-leg last-16 ties due to take place in the West Region of the continent between Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3 will be rescheduled.
Monday’s matches between Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates and Iranian side Tractor FC in Dubai, and Al Duhail of Qatar and Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli in Doha, have both been postponed. Tuesday’s games between Al Wahda of the UAE and Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad in Abu Dhabi, and Qatari club Al Sadd and Saudi side Al Hilal in Doha are both also off.
The AFC Champions League matches in Australia, South Korea and Malaysia will go ahead as planned.
The AFC added that fixtures in the federation’s Champions League Two and Challenge League due to take place in the West Region are postponed until further notice. The quarter-final tie between Al Wasl of the UAE and Saudi’s Al Nassr, set to take place in Dubai, has been impacted, alongside the match between Qatari side Al Ahli and Al Hussein of Jordan, which was due to be played in Doha.
A number of high-profile international players moved to the Saudi Pro League after the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) took control of four teams in division in the summer of 2023. Former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, ex-Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, France international N’Golo Kante, former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho and seven-time England international Ivan Toney are among those who had been due to be involved in the postponed fixtures.
“The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans,” an AFC statement read.
Mahrez and Toney of Al Ahli are among those whose games have been postponed (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
The U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on major Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, on Saturday after weeks of mounting diplomatic tension. Iran has retaliated with its own missile attacks on Israel and U.S. air bases in the Gulf region, including in the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain.
The Iranian government said on Sunday that U.S.-Israeli attacks had killed the nation’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s women’s national team begin their AFC Women’s Asian Cup group stage campaign against South Korea in Australia on Monday. Australian news agency AAP reported during Sunday’s pre-match press conference a question regarding the killing of Khamenei to coach Marziyeh Jafari and captain Zahra Ghanbari was shut down by an AFC media representative.
A wide corridor of airspace over the Middle East has been closed following the strikes, with Israel, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan shutting down air traffic.
The UK foreign office has warned against travel to parts of the Middle East, including Turkey, due to the heightened risk of regional tension. England face Ukraine in Turkey on Tuesday in a women’s World Cup qualifier. The England squad have been in Antalya in the south west of the country since Wednesday, and the Football Association remains in contact with the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regarding travel and security.
Iran has qualified for this summer’s men’s World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada and are due to play group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. FIFA said on Saturday it is focusing on “everybody participating” in the World Cup in the wake of the military attack.