The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is facing a potential legal challenge after seemingly ignoring its own regulations on multi-club ownership to allow three clubs owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to take part in the Asian Champions League. The Guardian understands that several leading Asian clubs are considering taking legal action against the AFC and its chairman, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa.
The 2023-24 competition is due to begin on Monday, with Al-Hilal, who are the most successful team in the history of the AFC Champions League with four titles and now boast Neymar and the former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in their squad, facing Navbahor from Uzbekistan. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Karim Benzema’s Al-Ittihad also qualified after PIF announced in June it had secured 75% stakes in all three clubs and Al-Ahli, who were promoted last season from the Saudi second tier.
