Saudi soccer team refuses to play in Iran over statue of slain general

Al-Ittihad refused to take the field for an Asian Champions League match against Iran's Sepahan due to a statue of slain Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
The match in Isfahan was postponed after Al-Ittihad stayed in their locker room despite around 60,000 fans in attendance.
Soleimani was killed by a US drone strike in 2020 and is considered a martyr in Iran but seen as a terrorist threat by Saudi Arabia.
Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been tense, with recent matches played on neutral territory for security.
The incident could escalate diplomatic tensions between the regional rivals amid a rise in hostilities.