Political tensions and conflicts have been accompanying modern sports for a long time.
The objective of this study was to determine the political reasons for not hosting
football matches between Iranian and Saudi football teams. To address the research
objective, a mixed-method approach was used. First, in the qualitative part, the political
reasons for not hosting the matches identified through the content analysis and interviews
were reviewed and evaluated by Delphi Group (25 people) in the second and third stages.
Secondly, in the qualitative section of the study, the questionnaire was also used
to rank the reasons. The research findings showed that tensions between Tehran and
Riyadh increased after the Saudi Embassy attack in Tehran and Mashhad (January 2016)
and the execution of Sheikh Nimr, a Shia sheikh opposed to the Saudi government. Saudi
Arabia has requested that the Asian Champions League matches against Iranian opponents
be held on neutral grounds in order to ensure the safety of its players. It is therefore
recommended that sports managers and politicians in Iran reduce the political tensions
between the two countries. In addition, they need to strive toward creating peace,
friendship, and security between the two countries.
