The former Team Mell Captain, whose transfer to Esteghlal Tehran club has been announced as void, is extremely upset by this turn of events. Esteghlal Club has been sanctioned by FIFA and is banned from any transfer activities until such time they settle a pay dispute with the German born Moroccan International Adil Chihi. The 28 years old Moroccan made 6 appearances for Esteghlal in 2016 before leaving Tehran. The Player subsequently filed a claim with FIFA against the Tehran giant for non-payment of dues.
Despite various letters from FIFA asking Esteghlal for proof, there was only one response from Esteghlal and that was considered inadmissible. The club Chairman, without admitting any guilt or wrongdoing claimed that his club has fully paid the Moroccan but because of the international sanctions, the bank transfer of funds was not carried out!!!
FIFA issued the sanction by a letter submitted to FFIRI on 9th January 2017 banning Esteghlal from any transfer activities.
Andranik “Ando” Teymourian, who is hoping to revive his flagging career by joining the blues, is at a crossroad now. Due to the official signing & registration with Esteghlal, he is ineligible to play for another team or go back to his last club, Mchine Sazi . He is, for all intents and purposes, a victim of circumstances beyond his control. His chances of selection and playing for Team Melli seems to be at minimal with the current situation prevailing.
Unless the FIFA sanction is removed after Esteghlal settles the dispute including payment of fines and legal cost, neither Teymourian nor the Uzbek player Server Djeparov who like Ando signed for Esteghlal, can play competitive football.
In a related development, Mehdi Taj, the Head of FFIRI has said that the matter is being calmly resolved, while the chairman of Esteghlal , a civil servant appointed by the government and typical to the class of administrators running football in Iran for the past few decades, made an appeal to Mehdi Taj to negotiate a discount from FIFA …. Truly pathetic and comical act.
FIFA has also indicated that Esteghlal has a long history of violations and financial irregularities. In general, Iranian football is becoming quite notorious for payment delays to foreign players and coaching staff, partly because of banking restrictions due to sanction but mostly due to poor financial discipline of Iranian clubs federation. The mentality that they can bargain their way out of financial commitments is still rife and very much practised!