Recently, according to reports from multiple foreign media including Reuters, Iran's Ministry of Sports and Youth issued a statement on Thursday this week, prohibiting Iranian national sports teams and domestic club teams from competing in hostile countries.
The statement from Iran's Ministry of Sports and Youth stated: “National teams and club teams are prohibited from appearing in countries deemed hostile where the safety of Iranian athletes and team members cannot be ensured, until further notice.”
The Ministry also requested that the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) and participating domestic clubs notify the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) so that relevant match venues can be rearranged.
The statement mentioned an AFC Champions League match between Iranian team Tractor Sports Club and a United Arab Emirates team, which was originally scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia. However, the statement did not specify which matches need to be relocated, nor did it define which countries are considered hostile.
