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

Published October 2, 2023 7:06 PM

By JOHN DUERDEN
Associated Press

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his first goal in the Asian Champions League in Al-Nassr’s 3-1 win over Istiklol to shift attention back to soccer after an earlier match between Sepahan of Iran and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad was controversially canceled. The Saudi club did not take to the field at Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium in Isfahan. Saudi Arabia’s Al Ekhbariya TV reports it was because of busts of Gen. Qassem Soleimani — who commanded Iran’s elite Quds Force before he was killed in a U.S. drone strike in neighboring Iraq in January 2020 — and other political banners. Another Saudi club, Al-Hilal, is scheduled to play Nassaji Mazandaran in Tehran on Tuesday.

Article Topic Follows: AP-National

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