AFC Champions League 2016 matches involving clubs from Saudi Arabia and Iran will be moved to venues in Oman, Qatar and the UAE due to rising political tensions.
The AFC Competitions Committee decided in January that the matches would be moved to neutral grounds if there had not been a return to normal relations between the two nations by March 15, 2016.
With no significant developments in the relationship between the two countries identified, both the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) were required to propose neutral venues for their clubs’ remaining fixtures.
After assessing the proposals submitted by both Member Associations, the AFC approved the IRIFF’s proposal to play their home matches in Oman and the SAFF’s proposal to move their matches to Qatar and the UAE.
The full details of the matches are listed below.
GROUP A
April 20, 2016 Al Ittihad (KSA) vs. Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan (IRN)
Stadium: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
GROUP B
April 20, 2016 Zobahan (IRN) vs. Al Nassr (KSA)
Stadium: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat,Oman
GROUP B
May 04, 2016 Al Nassr (KSA) vs. Zobahan (IRN)
Stadium: Rashid Stadium, Dubai, UAE
GROUP C
April 19, 2016 Al Hilal (KSA) vs. Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN)
Stadium: Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar
The venues for the two remaining matches – Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan (IRN) vs. Al Ittihad (KSA) and Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRN) vs. Al Hilal (KSA) – will be announced at a later date.
