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).[1] Seven clubs from seven countries were to compete in the tournament, which was to be held in Tehran, Iran in April 1972. The seven clubs were split into two groups, with the group winners and the runners-up set to advance to the semifinals.[2]
However, before the start of the tournament, Hong Kong Rangers were forced to withdraw at short notice due to logistical and financial problems, while Kuwaiti club Al-Qadsia and Lebanese club Racing Beirut refused to commit to playing against Israeli club Maccabi Netanya for political reasons if the situation arose.
In order to avoid any repeat of what had happened in 1970 (a semi-final) and 1971 (a group match and the final) when Arab clubs had forfeited against Israeli clubs, the AFC excluded both Al-Qadsia and Racing Beirut.
This left only four teams to participate (two in each group): consequently, the Football Federation of Iran no longer considered it viable to invest its share 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 competition was postponed, and it was ultimately cancelled.[3]
Participants
The seven clubs originally scheduled to participate were:[4]
Location of the 1972 Asian Champion Club Tournament planned teams Red: Group A; Blue: Group B
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,[4] with the top two from each group to advance to the semi-finals.
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Hong Kong Rangers 
Persepolis 
Maccabi Netanya 
Al-Qadsia 
Racing Beirut 
Korea University 
Port Authority of Thailand 
