FFIRI-SAFF matchups on home-and-away basis

Article posted by Coliseum, September 15^th, 2023

Image: AFC Champions League

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that all matches between the national teams and clubs of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) will take place on a home-and-away basis.

‘PersianFootball.com’ stated that the welcome development follows a groundbreaking agreement between the FFIRI and SAFF recently, which has been duly communicated to the AFC.

Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)-based the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of association football, beach football and futsal in some countries/territories in Asia and Oceania. It has 47 member-countries most of which are located in Asia. Australia, formerly in the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), joined AFC in 2006.

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Tehran (Iran)-based the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) is the governing body for football in Iran. It was founded in 1920 and has been a member of FIFA since 1948. It is also a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)-based the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) is the football governing body of Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1956, its responsibilities include administration of club competitions and national teams. The founder of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is Prince Abdullah bin Faisal Al Saud.

‘PersianFootball.com’ further stated that prior to the agreement between the two AFC Member-Associations, all matches between the FFIRI and SAFF at the national and club levels were mandated to be played in neutral venues in accordance with the 2016 decision of the AFC Competitions Committee and AFC Executive Committee.

The AFC welcomes the historic move as it reflects the commitment of both the FFIRI and SAFF towards fostering closer ties between their respective footballing communities, allowing clubs to host matches on their home turf and visiting the respective away stadiums, creating a more engaging and exciting experience for the fans and the players alike.

Passionate fans across Iran, Saudi Arabia and the whole of Asia can now look forward to a thrilling new chapter in club and national team football as teams from the FFIRI and SAFF compete in the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

With the home-and-away matches of the AFC Champions League 2023-2024 seasons between clubs of the FFIRI and SAFF set to kick off on September 19^th, the AFC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of all stakeholders involved in these matches, while securing the necessary approvals of the relevant AFC committees.

The AFC Champions League is an annual continental club football competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia’s top-division football clubs. It is the most prestigious club competition in Asian football, played by the national league champions of their national associations.

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