Travel Chaos Grips Asian Football Amidst Geopolitical Tensions and Postponements

Travel disruptions stemming from attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have plunged Asian football into chaos. This week, two Iranian clubs, Tractor and Esteghlal, are scheduled to play AFC Champions League Elite matches in the UAE. However, Al Wasl's fixture against Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr has been postponed because the Dubai-based team did not travel to Riyadh.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Sunday that the group match between Al Wasl and Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr would be rescheduled. The game was originally set for Monday night at Al Nassr's home ground, Al Awwal Park in Riyadh. While the match officials reportedly traveled as planned, Al Wasl did not make the journey. This postponement has drawn criticism from many Al Nassr fans and the broader football community in Saudi Arabia. Another group stage fixture in the kingdom, Al Qadsiah versus Qatari outfit Al Sadd in Dammam, is expected to proceed as scheduled.

Following the AFC and Al Wasl's announcement, the Saudi Arabian Football Association (SAFF) issued a statement asserting that the federation had completed all necessary procedures and arrangements to host the Al Wasl delegation. This included securing flight permits and fulfilling all organizational and logistical requirements, which were formally communicated to the AFC. SAFF also stated that it had coordinated with the UAE FA and Al Wasl, confirming all preparations were in place. The match commissioner and officiating team had already arrived in Riyadh, ready for the match, further underscoring that all hosting arrangements were in order. The SAFF reaffirmed its full support for Al Nassr and all Saudi clubs participating in international competitions.

According to tournament regulations, host clubs, in conjunction with their member associations and the AFC, are responsible for making appropriate arrangements for staging matches. Away teams are required to arrive at least two days before and depart no later than one day after matches. Exceptions for arriving a day before can be made only after an official request to the AFC more than seven days in advance. Clubs failing to travel risk expulsion from the competition and will be considered to have withdrawn if they inform the AFC in writing of their intention not to report to the venue. However, the AFC Competitions Committee is responsible for determining events of force majeure, which could excuse a club from fulfilling its obligations due to an extraordinary and unavoidable event outside of anyone's control.

Tractor, an Iran Pro League side, was reportedly on the verge of exclusion if they failed to reach Al Ain for their group match due to logistical issues with flights from Iran. Since the conflict began at the end of February, Iranian clubs have been undertaking circuitous journeys to away fixtures, often involving multiple flight changes. Nevertheless, the UAE FA assisted in securing permission for Tractor to make a direct flight from Tabriz to Dubai. A similar allowance was granted to Tehran-based club Esteghlal, who are set to face Shabab Al Ahli in Dubai on Tuesday.

Beyond cross-border issues, leading clubs in Saudi Arabia have also encountered logistical challenges in domestic competitions. The Saudi Pro League has seen several fixtures postponed. Following the recent round of Champions League fixtures, three Saudi Pro League (SPL) matches were rearranged. This was indirectly a consequence of the Houthi attack on the international airport in Riyadh, which resulted in casualties and significant damage. The closure of airspace in response to the attack necessitated teams traveling by road for their league fixtures. The extensive distances involved in these journeys meant that players who had participated in Champions League matches earlier in the week would not have been able to meet the mandatory 48-hour rest period.

The 2027 Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, with venues in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. Several federations have expressed concerns about whether the tournament can proceed as planned. The president of Japan's football federation, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, recently stated that based on news reports, the situation remains unsafe, making it unlikely to host the Asian Cup easily. Organizers have acknowledged that postponing the tournament is a possibility if necessary, but they also indicated that preparations are continuing as scheduled, with the competition's schedule confirmed on Monday morning.