The 1972 Asian Champion Club Tournament was to be the fifth edition of the annual Asian club football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Seven clubs from seven countries were to compete in the tournament, which was to be held in Tehran, Iran in April 1972. The plans were to have the seven clubs split into two groups, with the group winners and the runners-up to advance to the semi-finals.
However, Hong Kong Rangers were forced to withdraw after the draw due to logistical and financial issues. Later, Kuwaiti club Al-Qadsia and Lebanese club Racing Beirut both refused to commit to playing against Israeli club Maccabi Netanya for political reasons if the situation arose: the AFC excluded both clubs in response to prevent any repeat of Arab clubs forfeiting matches against Israeli clubs, which had occurred in a semi-final in 1970 and in a group match and the final in 1971.
Consequently, only four teams were left to participate (two in each group), and the Football Federation of Iran informed the AFC that they no longer considered it viable to invest its half of the money and resources required for the tournament - including half of Maccabi, Korea University and Port Authority's flight expenses to and from Tehran - due to the likely heavy financial losses.
On 2 April 1972, the AFC informed the remaining four teams that the tournament was postponed, and it was ultimately cancelled.דתייה טכנית מעוררת מהשבות Davar, 9 April 1972, Page 9, Historical Jewish Press
Participants The seven clubs originally scheduled to participate were:Maccabi Netanya players are about to go to the Asian Championship in Tehran Davar, 2 April 1972, Page 10, Historical Jewish Press Teams:TeamQualifying method Hong Kong Rangers1970–71 Hong Kong First Division League champions Persepolis1971–72 Local League champions Maccabi Netanya1970–71 Liga Leumit champions Al-Qadsia1970–71 Kuwaiti Premier League champions Racing Beirut1969–70 Lebanese Premier League champions Korea University1971 Korean National Football Championship champions Port Authority of Thailand1972 Kor Royal Cup champions
Teams location
Groups The draw for the groups had split the seven teams into two groups (one group of three, one group of four) prior to the tournament's cancellation, with the top two from each group to advance to the semi-finals. The tournament was scheduled to start on 12 April.
Group A Team Maccabi Netanya Hong Kong Rangers (withdrew) Korea University
Group B Team Persepolis Port Authority of Thailand Al-Qadsia (excluded) Racing Beirut (excluded)
References