Al-Ittihad's match against Iran's Sepahan cancelled due to Qassem

JEDDAH: A furious row erupted on Monday after an Iranian football club tried to use a match against Saudi opponents for political propaganda. The AFC Champions League match at the Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium in Isfahan between Sepahan and Jeddah team Al-Ittihad was called off when the Iranian club refused to remove political banners and busts of the late Revolutionary Guard warlord Qassem Soleimani from the edge of the pitch.

Al Ittihad refuse to play AFC Champions League game in Iran over pitch-side statue

Standoff Delays Iran-Saudi Champions League Clash Over Soleimani Bust - I24NEWS

Soccer Soleimani scandal shows Iran-Saudi ties still complicated - The Jerusalem Post

AFC Champions League: Al-Ittihad vs Sepahan Esfahan Match Cancelled

AFC penalizes Iran's Sepahan with fines of $200,000 and announces 3-0 victory for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad

Al-Ittihad's Protest: Clash Over Iranian General Statue in Asian Champions League

Ronaldo gets 1st Asian Champions League goal. Saudi team refuses to play in Iran over statue dispute

Saudi Football Team Refused to Play in Iran because of Statue Next to Pitch

Vantage How a Qassem Soleimani statue at a soccer match venue reignited the Iran-Saudi Arabia divide