Tractor SC officials protest grueling travel conditions for AFC match

Tractor SC officials and coaching staff have criticized the travel logistics following the team’s match against Al-Shamal SC in the AFC Champions League. Head coach Javad Nekounam reported that the team suffered from fatigue in the final minutes of the game due to an 18-hour journey, noting that the players lacked sufficient training time and recovery opportunities.

Club supervisor Khodadad Azizi and team captain Shuja' Khalilzadeh also voiced concerns regarding inequality in travel arrangements. They highlighted that while other major Iranian clubs receive direct flights, Tractor SC faced grueling multi-leg journeys. Khalilzadeh emphasized that the lack of preparation and physical exhaustion violated fair play principles and hindered the team’s ability to perform technically.

The club leadership has called upon the Football Federation of Iran and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to intervene and ensure better planning for future travels to prevent political or logistical issues from impacting the players' performance.