- Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren play for Mohun Bagan
- Indian Super League champions were scheduled to play in Iran
- Footballers were advised by Australian government not to travel
Socceroos stars Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren have come under fire after refusing to play in Iran due to ongoing safety fears.
The strikers are on the books of Indian Super League champions Mohun Bagan, who were drawn to line up against Sepahan SC in Isfahan.
But following advice from the Australian government, Cummings and Maclaren won’t feature in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two competition.
Both footballers have the support of Mohun Bagan, who as a result were booted out of the competition by the AFC.
Irate local supporters then made their feelings well known to both Aussie stars in a clip shared on X.
In tense scenes, supporters can be seen shouting at both players, who attempted to explain why they wouldn’t travel to play in Iran.
Socceroos stars Jason Cummings and Jamie Maclaren have come under fire after refusing to play in Iran for their Indian club side Mohun Bagan due to ongoing safety fears
Following advice from the Australian government, Cummings and Maclaren won’t feature in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Two competition
Mohun Bagan – current leaders of the Indian Super League – released a statement on the matter.
‘Six of our foreign nationals (players) were advised not to travel by their respective governments to Iran due to safety concerns,’ it read.
‘The club prioritises the safety and well-being of players, officials and staff.
‘No travel or medical insurance is available in Iran and existing life insurance policies for individuals become invalid.
‘(Crucially) this left unanswered questions about accountability in the event of an incident.
‘We fully support the stances of our players who have placed their safety and responsibility toward their families above the fixture.’
Cummings has been with the club for two years, while Maclaren – who has scored the most goals in the history of the A-League – joined the Green and Maroons last year.
The third Aussie at the club is former Sydney FC winger Dimitri Petratos.
Mohun Bagan earnt direct entry into the group stage after winning the Indian Super League title last season – but this is the second year the Kolkata club has refused to travel to Iran to play in the AFC competition.
