ACL Elite
Middle East conflict causing headache for Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo
The Saudi team is scheduled to play against Esteghlal in Iran on 22 October in the third round of the Asian Champions League Elite.
The Middle East conflict between Israel, Lebanon and Iran is also threatening to cast a shadow over the smooth running of the Asian Champions League Elite tournament. Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr, featuring star player Cristiano Ronaldo are apparently looking to request that the Asian Football Confederation move its match against Esteghlal on 22 October away from Tehran, the Iranian capital, to a neutral venue.
“We are monitoring the situation and will work on moving the match to a neutral venue,” an Al Nassr source told local outlet Al Riyadiya. However, the source added that they have not yet made an official request to move the match: “We have not yet submitted an official request to the Asian Confederation to move the highly anticipated continental clash.”
In 2016, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decided that matches between Saudi and Iranian clubs would be played on neutral territory, a measure that remained in effect until the last edition of the Champions League, when Saudi and Iranian clubs were again allowed to play in their own stadiums. During that period, Saudi Arabian teams chose Qatar to play their matches, while Iranian clubs opted for both Muscat, the capital of Oman, and Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, as venues for their matches.
Al Nassr made their debut in this edition of the Asian Champions League Elite with a 1-1 draw against Al Shorta of Iraq, in a match in which Cristiano Ronaldo did not play. In the second round, the Portuguese scored the winning goal against Al Rayyan of Qatar (2-1). The Saudi team is fourth place in the western zone (Group B) of 12 teams with four points, two less than Al Hilal and Al Ahli, and one more than Esteghlal, their next rival.