"Saudi Club Boycotts AFC Champions League Match in Iran Due to Soleimani Statue"

The Asian Champions League match between Al-Ittihad and Sepahan was called off after the Saudi team refused to leave their dressing room due to a statue of an assassinated Iranian general being placed at the entrance to the pitch. The game was postponed, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated that it was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. The statue of Qasem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian general, was viewed as a martyr by Iran's ruling regime. Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have long been strained, and this year's Asian Champions League is the first since 2016 in which clubs from both nations have been permitted to play each other.