Iran restricts international travel for sports teams due to conflict

Iran Bans Sports Teams from Traveling to Countries Considered “Hostile”

The Ministry of Sports in Iran has announced a ban on its sports teams traveling to countries deemed “hostile” until further notice, according to a statement released on Thursday. The decision applies to the upcoming football match between Tractor SC and Shabab Al Ahli of Dubai in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for next month.

The ban was issued nearly a month after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, leading to a war on February 28. The Ministry stated that the presence of national and club teams in countries considered hostile poses a risk to the security of Iranian athletes and team members.

The football federation and clubs will be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation about the ban, with plans to relocate the games. The statement did not provide a list of specific countries deemed hostile.

Tractor’s playoff game in Saudi Arabia was determined by the Asian Football Confederation’s draw on Wednesday, which also announced rescheduled dates for the western zone playoffs and tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, and final in April.

The Iranian national team is currently preparing for friendly internationals against Nigeria and Costa Rica in Turkey. The country has qualified for the upcoming World Cup, set to take place in Canada, Mexico, and the US from June to July.

Source: Al Jazeera