Tag: Oman

Ali Kaffashian investigated by FFIRI Ethics Committee

The former President of FFIRI and the AFC Vice-President was summoned by the Football Federation Ethics Committee.

According to ISNA, the issue of broadcasting rights was refered to to the Ethics Committee after the discovery of some irregularities. This will be the second time that the proceeding is opened in regards to Team Melli’s matches in the preliminary qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 against Guam, Turkmenistan, India and Oman in which, the former President of the Football Federation and current vice president has been accountable.

While the TV broadcast rights company MP & SILVA, as a football federation contractor, claims that they have paid $ 79,000  (totaling $ 316,000) to the football federation FFIRI for each of these games, documents of the federation does not reflect this fact and no record exists of the payment!

Accordingly, Ali Kaffashian, the head of the Football Federation’s at the time was ordered by the Ethics Committee, to submit these records to the committee.

Blatter & Kaffashian

 In his first appearance at the Ethics Committee, Kaffashian promised to submit the documents, but despite the passage of more than five months from that first hearing, he had not presented any documents yet, so the Ethics Committee ordered him to appear again before the committee on Wednesday to present the documents.

Ali Kaffashian (63 years) was the President of FFIRI for two terms from 1st March 2008 to 7th May 2016. He was succeeded by Mehdi Taj the incumbent President.

Iran beach soccer wins the Continental Beach Soccer Title

Iran beach soccer won the Continental Beach Soccer Tournament by beating Oman 6-3 in the final.

Iran’s goals were scored by Amir Hossein Akbari (4 goals), Seyed Ali Nazim , and Peyman Hosseini.

This was the first title for the team under coach Mohammad Hossein Mir Shamsi. Peyman Hosseini  was as the tournament’s best goalkeeper while Amir Hossein Akbari grabbed the top scorer title.

On  Wednesday, Iran booked a place at the Continental Beach Soccer Tournament final after beating Japan 5-1. .

In the group stages, the Iranian team, Bahrain 10-1 in its first match. 

 China and Thailand played for the bronze medal.

The three-day tournament was held in Ordos, China.

The top eight Asian teams namely, Iran, China, Bahrain, Japan, Vietnam, Oman, Thailand and Lebanon participated in the event.

The Iranian team takes part in the competition as part of its preparation for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification.

Team Melli planning a training camp in Oman.

Mehdi Taj and Carlos Queiroz met with a delegation from Oman’s Al Ouroba club to discuss the possibilities of setting up of a training camp for Team Melli in Muscat.

The Omani delegation is apparently in Tehran to extend an invitation to FFIRI and Team Melli for the use of Al Ouroba training facilities in lieu of the worsening conditions of Team Melli one and only training camp in Tehran. The surprise Iranians side delegation had the one and only Mohammad Rouyanian whose capacity in the FFIRI is unknown to anyone but Mehdi Taj!

As ususal with Iranian football , nothing seems like it is , and nothing should be taken for granted too. Carlos Queiroz who seemed to have said his farewell to the fans and some players some time ago now. He has tendered his resignation (and not for the first time) , however he seems to be continuing with his job leading Iran to the FIFA World Cup 2018 .

It s believed that Mehdi Taj has promised Queiroz that he will deliver and quickly improve all the conditions for him to continue working comfortably and effectively leading Team Melli. It remains to be seen if these promises will materialize. Queiroz is perhaps testing the water with the new President , Mehdi Taj and giving him a decent sporting chance to deliver on his promises

The Idea of setting camp in Muscat sounds fine , except for the weather. Like most Persian Gulf countries , Oman suffers from a hot and humid climate in summer months (May to September) which is far from ideal for a football training camp. Most of the teams in this part of the world head towards north and the much cooler climates of Europe or Turkey for a comfortable training camp.

Mohammad Rouyanian appearance in FFIRI is an enigma and a risk that Taj is taking. By including the former Persepolis chairman in FFIRI , Taj is alienating the government. Rouyanian  was a close ally of ex-president Ahmadinejad. He was ousted from Persepolis and spent a few weeks in jail for unknown reasons after the departure of Ahmadinejad. He is not really appreciated by the current Ministry of Youth and Sports officials, which includes the Minister himself. Rouyanian appearance with Taj will not go down very well especially since the recently elected FFIRI president has announced his intention to have a cordial and good working relation with the Ministry of youth and sport……Not by harbouring an enemy, you won’t Mr. Taj.

 

Dan Gasper “I’ve never felt safer, I’ve never felt more comfortable or more well respected than I have in Iran.”

Team Melli Goalkeeper’s coach and Carlos Queiroz’s right hand man was interview by FIFA.com. Among the many interesting things the American coach said in this recently published interview , was the level of comfort and safety he has felt in Iran. That is a compelling observation by an American citizen who has lived for over 6 years in Iran and one thought that the AFC should listen to refute the Saudi’s grotesque and overtly ridiculous claim of level of safety in Iran and the dangers of playing football there!

The full Interview

Gaspar: I’ve always been adventurous

(FIFA.com)

“I’ve always been adventurous. I’ve always been curious. I’ve always been a risk taker.”

Football can do wonderful things. In the case of Iran national team assistant coach and goalkeeping coach Dan Gaspar, football took a kid born in South Glastonbury, Connecticut and showed him the world.

Gaspar has been Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz’s No2 since 1993, working with the former Manchester United assistant manager in Japan, Portugal, South Africa and at home in USA.

The latest chapter in the American’s life was helping Iran seal qualification to Asia’s third round of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ qualifying. Team Melli completed their unbeaten run in the second round with two convincing wins at home in Tehran against India and Oman. And in the eight games of the round, Iran conceded just three goals.

So what led him to accepting the job with Iran five years ago?

“I was grateful Carlos Queiroz’s trust and belief that I could assist him in this unique project,” Gaspar told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “I made the decision based on how I make most of my decisions and that is I think with my brain, I feel with my heart and then I make a decision with my gut, and I went there!”

Iran are one of Asia’s powerhouses in football with three AFC Asian Cups and four World Cup qualifications and its fans are some of the most passionate you can find. The idea of taking another nation to a World Cup was enough on its own to convince Gaspar to make the move to Iran in 2011. He went to South Africa 2010 with Portugal and when asked about the experience, you can see the magnitude of it all in his eyes.

“That was an amazing experience, difficult to put into words what it means to have that kind of privilege,” Gaspar said. “When the Iranian situation was presented I realised that this could be another opportunity to participate in a World Cup and help a country achieve that.”

And he did just that. Iran qualified for Brazil 2014 and had a respectable showing at the tournament. Although they failed to advance from the group stages, they went back home with respect from the world, especially after their performance against eventual runners-up Argentina, when only a singular moment of magic from Lionel Messi in injury time was all that could separate the teams. 

“Argentina’s best player that day was the goalkeeper! Who could have imagined that we would have put enough pressure on them for their goalkeeper to have been their player of the match? I have a lot of admiration and respect for our players because they played for the honour of their country and for their love of the people and the sport.”

Adaptation
Iran navigated through Group D in Asia’s second round of Russia 2018 qualifiers with confidence and pride in a legacy left by their countrymen stretching back to the 1960s. Playing against Oman, Turkmenistan, Guam and India, on paper it may have looked like a straightforward journey for Team Melli, but with thousands of miles to travel and diverse conditions to endure, it was anything but easy. 

“It’s complicated because the environments are challenging sometimes,” Gaspar said. “In Guam, we played on a turf pitch and it’s an island with not a lot of resources but their hospitality was fantastic. We overcame the conditions that our players never were exposed to.” It was their 6-0 win in Guam that epitomised Iran’s ability to adapt and play at their highest levels.

“Iran has gone through so much turmoil for so many years, it’s amazing how they handle and process these things,” Gaspar said. “When you come from a different culture in America or Europe where everything is structured and done exactly as planned, with Iran their custom allows them to react at the moment and to resolve the situation at the moment.”

Adaptation is a theme with Iran, but it’s also something Gaspar himself has shown his whole life.

“You challenge your decisions. Did I make the right decision? Am I being responsible to my family? Nothing has ever prepared me for this from the culture I was born in. It’s all about adaptation. I’ve never felt safer, I’ve never felt more comfortable or more well respected than I have in Iran.”

Gaspar has been working with Iran for five years, the joint-longest time he’s been anywhere in his career. With Team Melli through to the third round of Russia 2018 qualifying, they have every chance of making it to their fifth World Cup and for Gaspar, it would represent the longest professional adventure of his life.

“Sometimes I question if it was the right decision, but then when I base it on my real life experiences, I realise that this is a journey I would take again.” 

Tough test for Team Melli.

Team Melli will host Oman in the final round of Group D Asian zone FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers on Tuesday. The match is of a crucial importance to Oman while Team Melli will be entering in the match in a much calmer attitude.

With a superior goal difference by 15, Iran are almost certain to finish on top even if they lose their three-point lead with a defeat to second-placed Oman at the Azadi Stadium.

The Omanis are currently seventh in the rankings of the runners-up but, with only three points separating second from eighth, could make a final day surge by beating Iran.

Oman has always been a tough opponent for Team Melli. In the away match in Muscat , Team Melli managed a draw in a match that the Omani’s were the better team and exposed some vulnerabilities in Team Melli midfield and defense lines.

However, this match will be quite different.

Azadi is like no other venue for the guests, especially when it is filled with passionate Persian mass  fever. The biggest stadium in Asia can hold up to 110, 000 fans and the noise generated buy such mass can take the opponents apart before even the kick off. The Omani’s will find it that much harder to play their football under such environment. Although Azadi is not expected to be full, the fact that the match admission is free and many Iranians are still in Nowrooz holiday, the crowds numbers will be significant.

Carlos Queiroz embarked in another brave move by selecting what was virtually his second team last time against India, Despite some glitches the new look Team Melli managed to score four past India the weakest team of group D. It could have easily been double that figure, though.

Oman on the other hand did not find it so smooth against the resilient and vastly improved Guam in their last match in Muscat. They barely managed to score late in the game to keep their hope of qualification to the next round alive,

Oman is still the underdog in tomorrow’s match, but surprises are aplenty in football. The Wiley Queiroz , will be having a different team this time round as Dejagah , Teymourian and the rest of the first choice players will be back in the lineup to prevent any possible surprises by the Omani’s.

.

‘Milestone’ match for Guam

Grant Wieman

The Guam men’s national soccer team will host the most important match in the island’s history on Tuesday when the world’s No. 43-ranked team, I.R. Iran, competes in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying game at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.

A win for No. 155 Guam would be unexpected and is probably unrealistic, but simply hosting such a prestigious match gives the Matao an opportunity that was previously impossible to imagine.

“I believe having Iran here, in a World Cup Qualification game, is the single most important milestone in Guam football history,” Guam head coach Gary White said during a press conference at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa on Monday.

“To have a world-class team, a world-class coach, here on our shores is going to do so much for football and our development,” he continued. “… We want the local fans to see world-class football here, live, because we just don’t watch it enough.”

Guam has earned seven points in its six WCQ matches so far, each of them coming at home. They beat Turkmenistan and India and drew with Oman.

In the earlier match against Iran, in Tehran, the Matao lost 6-0.

“Playing in Iran, even though the score was what it was, the players got better as the game went on and that helped us in the next game against Oman (four days later),” White said. “Without that game, we wouldn’t have learned the lessons that we did.”

Iran Guam @ Azadi

White, called “The Gaffer” by his players, said the Matao learned the importance of starting fast and limiting mistakes during that match. Iran’s first goal that night came in the ninth minute, on a penalty kick, and Iran picked up momentum from there.

“We know they will have more possession than us. That’s just the reality,” White said. “We can’t start slowly. We can’t give them easy chances. … We look at it like it’s an FA Cup game. I know (Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz) has coached a lot of FA Cup games when he was at Manchester United. You do have second division teams that do upset premiership teams, and that’s our mentality.”

Queiroz was an assistant coach for Manchester United for several seasons in the 2000s.

Both teams will enter the game shorthanded. Iran is missing four starting field players, including their top scorer and their No. 1 goalkeeper because they couldn’t obtain visas to travel to the U.S.

The Matao will likely have three defensive starters out due to injuries, suspension and missing the trip because of other commitments.

guam

“We’re one team, we’re very unified, and we know that everyone else will have to pick up the slack,” Matao captain Jason Cunliffe said. “We hope to put on a good show and show our home fans what we’re capable of. … We’re here to fight through the very last minute. We had a tough result in Iran so we’d like to obviously change that.”

Queiroz and Iran’s captain, Andranik Teymourian, were careful with how they addressed the game. They expect to win, but they never said the word, instead speaking in phrases like “get the result that is convenient for us” and “that is on the way to our target.”

Cunliffe , Guam captain

The wording made it clear they respect Guam, both as a soccer team and host nation. It is now up to the Matao to prove they deserve that respect on the pitch.

“To play at home is a great honor against such a team,” Cunliffe said. “Growing up on this island and playing football here, I never — honestly never — thought I’d be seeing the day we’d be hosting a World Cup Qualifier against Iran. It’s amazing and it’s my job as captain to make sure the boys, while we are excited about that in terms of football, for Gaffer and for the kids, to make sure we don’t get too caught up in that because at the end of the day it’s a football match.”

“It’s 11 vs. 11 on the field for 90 minutes and while I’m sitting here telling you it’s great and we’re looking forward to it, believe me when I say that out there on the field it will be a battle and we will make it as difficult for them as possible,” Cunliffe said.

Guam will host Iran at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at GFA. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Iran and Oman draw in Muscat.

Iran maintained its top of the table position after grinding out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against its main rival Oman  in 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying clash on Thursday. The match was played in difficult weather condition with high humidity restricting the players of both teams from giving their best.

The host created a host of chances at Sultan Qaboos stadium in the first half but the closest they came to breaking the deadlock was when Qasim Saeed shot wide from close range.

Team Melli also had opportunities of their own but none to seriously bother Ali Al Habsi who had a comfortable half commanding his area quite well.

Signs of defensive vulnerability in Team Melli came in the first half as Omani forwards outpaced their opponents. Jalal Hosseini and Pejman Montazeri were both caught out in several situations by the fast attacks and especially in transitions.

In the 52nd minute, this vulnerability soon translated into a goal for Oman as a blunder by Hosseini, Alireza Haghighi in the middle and a complete absence of covering by left back Ehsan Hajsafy, for Saad Suhaill to score an easy goal.

However , both the guilty parties in this goal conceded by Iran combined a few minutes later for Team Melli’s goal.

Hajsafy on the left flank ran with the ball all the way into the Oman box before sending a diagonal ball which Al Habsi could only fumble into Hosseini’s legs. The Center back had the easiest of the chances to slot it in for Iran’s equalizer.

.

Both teams exchanged control of the match through the midfield. Iran suffered badly due to the weak performance of the trio Ebrahimi, Teymourian and Dejagah. The latter has one of his worst performances since he played for Team Melli. Teymourian defensive duties prevented him from being a force while Iran was on attack.

Up front Taremi and Azmoun did not click and found wanting in front of a strong and compact Omani defense.

However, the middle of the defense was perhaps the most worrying of all the three lines in which Queiroz needs to do some serious patching work.

Team Melli will have a chance to keep the lead when they meet Turkmenistan next. Before that, the Japan friendly will give Queiroz a perfect opportunity to try to solve some urgent issues with the tactics and personnel.

Team Melli camps in Dubai.

Team Melli landed in Dubai this evening to set up an eight days training camp.

Iran will be meeting its stiffest test in the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers  when they meet Oman in Muscat on 8th of October. Team Melli will train in Dubai in the Iranian Clubs premises until their departure date on Tuesday 6th October.

After the match with Oman, Team Melli will also play a friendly against Japan in Azadi.

Iran is leading the table of Group D with 7 points ahead of Oman on goal difference.

 

Rank Team MP W D L F A D P
1 Iran 3 2 1 0 10 1 +9 7
2 Oman 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7
3 Guam 4 2 1 1 3 7 -4 7
4 Turkmenistan 3 0 1 2 2 5 -3 1
5 India 3 0 0 3 2 7 -5 0

 

 

Queiroz :“We need to rekindle the spirit of the World Cup 2014″

Carlos Queiroz invited the fans to support Team Melli in its quest for qualification to FIFA World Cup 2018 starting with the home match against Guam in Azadi on Friday.

In the pre-match news conference, the head coach of Team Melli believed that his team has the best available players in Iran and assured the fans that they will be witnessing a winning spirit by the best squad that is available to him.

“We need to rekindle the spirit of the World Cup 2014 team and that of the Asian Cup 2015. If we do that, I am confident of winning all the way. Tomorrow’s match is important step for us and we must come out as winners. I am sure you will see a competent performance that will make you happy.” Queiroz added.

The Friday match which was supposed to be played in Karaj , Enghilab stadium , was switched to Azadi because of lack of quality hotels in Karaj!

The confident sounding Portuguese coach and true to form took the opportunity as always to take a swipe at his critics and that phantom “Enemy of Team Melli” ! Accusing some without naming them, Queiroz said “Some people don’t like to see Team Melli winning and those people don’t like to face realities. They are upset because of my support for Kaffashian (…)” That last comment was perhaps more directed at Ministry of Youth & Sports. Kaffashian has warned Queiroz about confronting the Ministry earlier on.

[quote class=”If we did not want him, we would not have signed with him after the World Cup”]”When we played our first two matches we set the target of being on top of the group. But people laughed at me when I said that. Well, look at us now, if any team takes us too lightly they will trip up.” [/quote]

 Guam coach Gary White

Asked about his response to Guam Coach who said that it is Iran that will be under pressure tomorrow, Queiroz said “I have no problem with that statement, he is free to think however he wishes. Let me tell you that I am thrilled to be under pressure. Those who cannot stand the heat should not be in the kitchen cooking.”

Queiroz who is also the master of stating the obvious, sarcastically targeted those who questioned his commitments “For those who follow football, they know that Guam has won 2 matches and heading the group with maximum points. So, it is not a team to be taken lightly. We respect them but that is as far as it goes.”

Queiroz only recently returned to Iran after a long absence leading to some criticism from section of the press that he is undermining Guam team while the more difficult game against Oman is not given its due importance as far as team preparation is concerned. Team Melli only gathered for training about 1 week ago.

Despite the unending wrangles of the Portuguese coach, his gallant selection of a young team has given him an advantage and silenced a large section of his critics scoring a moral victory in the process. Whether he can sustain this victory is all dependent on the outcome of the next two matches. Failing to beat Guam could be the catalyst for the coach. On the other hand, two good results and 6 points will go a long way in increasing the Portuguese popularity at least amongst the fans.

The match on Friday against Guam is at 19:00 local time.

GROUP D
TEAMS MP W D L GF GA +/- Pts
Guam  GUAM
 2 2 0 0 3 1 2 6
Oman  OMAN
 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3
Iran  IRAN
 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
Turkmenistan  TURKMENISTAN
 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 1
India  INDIA
 2 0 0 2 2 4 -2 0

 

Guam training in Osaka Japan while waiting for Iran visa.

In preparation for Guam’s fixture against Asia’s No. 1 country, I.R. Iran, on Sept. 3, the team and staff have all gotten together for a weeklong training camp at J-Green Sakai in Osaka, Japan, thanks to the generosity of the Japan Football Association.

For over a decade, JFA has been immensely supportive of football development in Guam and this was recognized in front of dozens of Japanese media in a press conference held this past Friday in Tokyo. Matao team members and staff were all present at the event to thank JFA for the organization’s assistance that has helped fuel the success of Guam’s national program today.

Guam’s football success

Gary White, or the “Gaffer,”  the Guam Football Association’s technical director and head coach of the men’s national soccer team, has written:

The recognition of JFA’s support over the years of Guam’s football success comes at an opportune time, as the Matao are currently group leaders in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Joint Qualification Round 2, a feat unparalleled by many of Asia’s top countries.

Now that we’ll be facing off with Asia’s highest-ranked country in a few days in Azadi Stadium, a venue with a capacity of over 100,000, we continue to thank JFA for its support in arranging accommodations and training at the beautiful and world-class J-Green Sakai facility in Osaka, Japan.

After our match in Iran, the team looks forward to returning home for its match against Oman, a country ranked in the top 100 in the world. We hope to play in front of another sellout crowd, with fans in every corner waving Guam flags and cheering the team to another milestone victory.