With winter making way for spring, the attention of many in the football world has turned to Doha, the capital of Qatar, where current weather conditions look ideal for the upcoming AFC Beach Soccer Championship, which doubles as the Asian qualifying tournament for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Portugal 2015.

No fewer than 14 teams are scheduled to take part in the event, which is being staged on Katara Beach for the second successive time. A temporary stadium, which will welcome thousands of fans between 23 and 28 March, has been set up right in the heart of the cultural district.

By the end of the tournament, three teams will have earned the right to represent Asia in the Portuguese seaside town of Espinho in July. FIFA.com runs the rule over the sides likely to capture those coveted World Cup berths.

The favourites
Since the very first set of Asian qualifiers in 2006, only a select band of nations have advanced to the Beach Soccer World Cup. Iran, who have made great progress in recent years and emerged victorious from the 2013 qualifying tournament, are among that group and will be highly fancied to book their place at the World Cup for a sixth time. Last time around at Tahiti 2013, the Iranians raised eyebrows by reaching the quarter-finals, where they lost a closely contested match to eventual world champions Russia.

Another team to watch will be Japan, who have taken part in every Beach Soccer World Cup so far, with a fourth-place finish at Rio de Janeiro 2005 and three quarter-final appearances – including one at Tahiti 2013, where they lost out to Brazil – to show for their efforts. The Samurai Blue have previously captured the continental crown on two occasions, in 2009 and 2011, and lost a tight final to Iran in 2013.

The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, can point to successes in 2007 and 2008, which represent two of the four times they have qualified for the final stages, including 2009, where they hosted the competition proper. Having never got beyond the group stage of the Beach Soccer World Cup, the Emiratis will be keen to put that right on Portuguese sands.

The challengers
Bahrain, despite missing out on Ravenna/Italy 2011 and Tahiti 2013, will also fancy their chances of making an impact, having topped the Asian pile in 2006 and reached the final versus Japan in 2009.

Oman, meanwhile, will try to take inspiration from their qualifying performances in 2011, when they finished second, but will also be anxious to erase memories of their disappointing displays in Ravenna.

The outsiders
Every qualifying competition produces its own surprise package, and some observers suspect that host nation Qatar could fulfil that role this year. In order to do so, Al-Annabi (The Maroon) will probably have to top Group A, thereby avoiding Japan, who will be big favourites to win Group B.

China, who have competed in every Asian qualifying phase but have never qualified for the Beach Soccer World Cup, are anxious to finally make a significant breakthrough. If the Chinese finish behind Japan in their section, they will have to lock horns with the winners of Group A.

Elsewhere, Lebanon will be hopeful of bettering the eighth place they secured last time out, and the new format adopted for this year certainly facilitates that task.

The stat
4 – The number of teams that have triumphed in the Asian qualifying phase, namely Bahrain, UAE (twice), Japan (twice) and Iran.

The groups
Group A: Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Laos
Group B: Japan, China, Kuwait, Vietnam
Group C: UAE, Iraq, Uzbekistan
Group D: Iran, Lebanon, Thailand

Queiroz is stopped from leaving Iran!

 On the eve of the departure of Team Melli squad to Europe for the two friendly games against Chile and Sweden, the authorities have prevented the Portuguese coach of Team Melli from leaving Iran based on official complaints received from the tax authorities in regards of non-payment of income taxes.

It is customary for people who have issues with the tax authorities and without requiring a court order, to be stopped at the exit ports of Iran based upon a notice of complaint from the Finance Ministry. Since Carlos Queiroz has announced his resignation, the tax authorities, fearing that Queiroz will not return back, went into overdrive to recover his unpaid taxes before he leaves.

The irony of the issue is that his employer, The football federation, is responsible to settle the income tax, this fact was even confirmed by the federations secretary-general, Asadi recently. However, the FFIRI failed to pay the taxes due and failed to coordinate with the authorities to prevent such action being taken against the Portuguese coach.

For the record, this is not the first time a foreign Team Melli coach has been held or prevented from leaving the country because of Tax Issues.

After assurances and guarantees from FFIRI, Queiroz   would be allowed to fly to Austria to accompany the squad on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ali Kaffashian has revealed that Queiroz had a reversal of mind after a few months of the agreement to extend his contract after the FIFA World Cup 2014  was signed  “We did a lot of work to convince Queiroz to extend his contract up to the next World Cup and it was finally signed after some prolong negotiations. However, A month before the start of the AFC Asian Cup 2015, he started coming up with excuses and raising issues. This coincided with several reports in the foreign media naming Queiroz as a candidate for various coaching jobs in some clubs.”  Kaffashian said.

“We cannot force anyone to work with us. It is clear that he (Queiroz) has made up his mind and seeking to work elsewhere. We were satisfied with his work and do not have any issues. So , he cannot claim that we at the federation did not want him around. About the critics, we neither have the tools nor do we have the abilities stop people criticizing him.”

Following Carlos Queiroz resignation from his role as Iran head coach, citing external  pressure, the Portuguese coach and Ali Kaffashian , the President of FFIRI made brief  statements to the press explaining their side of the events.

Ali Kaffashian denied that it was the issue of the two players that he ordered to be released to Omid team that lead to Queiroz submitting his resignation, on the other hand  , he declined to mention what was the reason given by the head coach except to say that he will leave it to Queiroz to respond to that !.

On his part, Queiroz said that a set of circumstances have piled up against him which made his job quite difficult. He also accused a few people without naming any to be working against him  behind the scenes. “For the best interest of all sides, I decided to quit and my last assignment will be these two important matches for Team Melli in Europe.”

Queiroz was none specific and did not elaborate more. He did not mention the release of Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh, despite the fact that he has threatened to quit his job if they were allowed to play for Omid team instead of Team Melli.  “At this time, I like to focus on the two important friendly matches in Europe.  I do not wish to discuss my resignation, let me get this job over with.” Queiroz stated.

Asked if there is any chance for a change of mind and his return to Iran, the Portuguese coach said “I will never forget the country and the people. The chances of coming back to Iran is quite high but not as coach of Team Melli.”

Queiroz is taking the squad to Austria for the match against Chile before flying to Sweden for the second match against the host country on 31st March.

Ali Kaffashian has upped the ante when he ordered the release of Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Sardar Azmoun to the Omid team in defiance to the adamant and stubborn Carlos Queiroz .

The team Melli coach declared that he has the priority and contractually the FFIRI are bound to respond to his wishes in player’s selection. He has rejected the pleas made by Kashani and Khakpour who requested that the two European based players to be available for the Omid team.  After a few days of high tension between Queiroz on one side and the rest of the FFIRI on the other, Queiroz has even threatened to leave his job if the two players are taken away from him.

 Kaffashian, who has already assured the nation and the Omid Team management a few days earlier that the two star players will be available for Team Melli, was not amused by Queiroz strong public outcry and his threats. He considered Queiroz’s threats as unprofessional and conduct unbecoming of a person in his class. He invited Queiroz to be calm and refrain from public statements that will only hurt the organization. Kaffashian also advised Queiroz to respect the FFIRI plans and the commands of his superiors.

After visiting Omid Team training session today (Thursday) Kaffashian wasted no time telling the reporters that Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh are important players for the Omid Team and will be soon joining the squad preparing for the round robin tournament in Azadi in a few days’ time.

“Our priority is Omid Team. We need to prepare well in the upcoming qualifying round and then we have a 9 months break before the finals qualifying rounds in Qatar.” Kaffashian stated. He also thought that after the management failures of the last Olympics campaign which ended in failure to qualify for the London 2012 games, in Kashani, the FFITRI have found the most experienced manager to take things forward. Kaffashian also had a few words of praise for the knowledge and skills of coach, Khakpour.

Kaffashian, as such , has called Queiroz’s bluff.

The Portuguese head coach, forever at odds and in dispute with his colleagues the organization and a whole lot of other people out of it, in what looks like a show of power, will be in a quandary. He has already made his strong points clear on where he stands with the two players. “They are Team Melli players and will be with us in the European tour. I have made myself very clear on that issue and do not wish to repeat it.” Queiroz said yesterday. He has also defied his superiors and claimed that the clause of the employment contract gives him the full rights to player’s selection and any interference by anyone in his job would mean that the contract is void.

Very strong words Indeed and defiant stand by Queiroz. It seems that we have not seen the end of this tale yet.

Differences, disputes, accusations and counter accusations, tension that has been brewing in the corridors of the Iranian football federation, has created quite a bad image of an organization that is short of good reputation and progressive image left in it.

In the pinnacle of the pyramid is a feeble leadership that has driven the organization to its lowest point for as long as the memory serves us. Ali Kaffashian , as decent and frank as he may be, has wretchedly failed in his administration and lacks the leadership quality that is required to take the FFIRI to the highest points. His administration failures are frequent and plentiful, some even comical, his presence at the top of the FFIRI could very well lead to more failures on and off the field. 

Kaffashian , however , is not the only guilty party in the FFIRI for the federation is marred by lack of teamwork and disputes between the various elements.

The recent disputes that went public is one classic example of a group of people who are definitely not working as a team. In football, Teamwork is the buzzword.  

On one hand there is a Carlos Queiroz who thinks he is the gift of God almighty to the Iranians, the man who knows it all and better than any Farsi speaking person around, a man who is known to reject any criticism and becomes hostile towards any attempt to question him. While on the opposite side there is a group of staff who do not seem to be totally convinced by the Portuguese man achievements, self-adulation and boasting while questioning his ability to take Iran football to where they think it deserves to be.

The battles between these two have reached a rampant stage and there is one loser here and that is Iran’s football.

While facts and logic states that Queiroz has many justified grievances that is worth siding with and supporting him, conversely , his demeanor , despotic arrogance , brash behavior and his abrasive manner in dealing with others, leaves the neutrals a very difficult task to take side and sympathize with Queiroz. In short, Carlos Queiroz is exhibiting less than an expected degree of maturity and respect towards others.

On the contrary , the oppositions to Queiroz have their own valid points. It is difficult to argue against people who have the interest of Iran, the nation and the football at heart. It is difficult to argue against utter and absolute facts that are commonly known to the public such as the ones that Alireza Asadi has put forward in the latest arguments.  

The latest drama is the dispute between the Secretary General Asadi and Team Melli Coach Carlos Queiroz. The Portuguese had some harsh words for his superior and made what was considered a very private and confidential discussion, a public one for everyone’s entertainment.

Queiroz drew the first blood to add Alireza Asadi to the increasing list of his adversaries. It seems that there is no internal battle in FFIRI without Carlos Queiroz having some influence in it or being a major player. Only a few days ago and even before returning to Iran, he issued a statement attacking Abbas Torabian , another FFIRI administrator calling upon him to mind his own business!.  These are simply a few examples that working with Queiroz is a testing experience as the man can be difficult co-worker and has no issues tongue lashing his opponents and whoever he might be , even his bosses.

The problem here is Queiroz cannot be right all the time and he is certainly far from being perfect at his job. He might be one of the highest profile coaches that Iran ever had at the helm of Team Melli , but neither his records nor the style that he employs have left much impression with the masses.

Some of his conducts are even bordering felonious intent.

While the strong objection that Queiroz had to the suggested Italy friendly game sounded bizarre by a coach in the level of the ex-Portugal coach, where he suggested that the match fee of US$ 1,5 million for the Italians should be better spent on Beach Soccer in Iran amongst other things. The feeble justification and objection of Queiroz became even more suspicious after it was revealed that the arrangement for this friendly was carried out by Abbas Torabian as part of the protocol signed between the Italian and Iranian football federations. That protocol includes the exchange of visits between national teams at all age levels.

As mentioned earlier, Abbas Torabian is not on the favorite list of Queiroz , so this opposition to the match takes another turn and perhaps raises questions against Queiroz real motives. 

You do the maths now !

While most respectable and aspiring teams would dream of playing the likes of Brazil , Italy , Germany or England, the Portuguese think it is a waste of money as Palestine ,  Kenya and Madagascar are much better value for the ex-Real Madrid coach!. Such logic by Queiroz can be hardly digested even for the least sophisticated of analysts.