Al-Ettifaq threaten Gulf Club Champions League walkout after travel request rejected

Al-Ettifaq have triggered a fresh dispute in the Gulf Club Champions League after reportedly deciding not to travel to Iraq for their group-stage match against Erbil. The Saudi club are due to face the Iraqi side on Wednesday in the second round of Group B fixtures.

However, Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah reports that Al-Ettifaq asked the Gulf Football Federation to postpone the game because they were unable to travel to Iraq at the present time. That request was rejected by the Gulf Football Federation, but Al-Ettifaq's management is still planning to stay in Saudi Arabia rather than play the match as scheduled.

The club are understood to be prepared to accept any penalties resulting from that decision. Club officials expect Al-Ettifaq to be awarded a 3-0 defeat and to receive a financial sanction.

They do not, however, expect the punishment to extend to having their results cancelled or being removed from the Gulf competition. The reported standoff comes after another match involving a Saudi club was postponed in similar circumstances.

The Asian Football Confederation announced on Sunday that Al Nassr's AFC Champions League Elite fixture against Al Wasl, which had been scheduled for Monday evening, would be delayed until further notice because the Emirati club was unable to reach Saudi Arabia. The decision caused anger in Saudi football circles.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation subsequently issued a statement saying that all arrangements and conditions had been in place to receive Al Wasl's delegation normally. Al-Ettifaq are currently top of their Gulf Club Champions League group with three points.

They earned that total by beating Kazma of Kuwait 2-0 in the opening round.