Month: October 2020

Shojaa Khalilzadeh to sign for Al Rayyan in Doha

Shojaa Khalilzadeh, Persepolis, and Team Melli central defender has turned up in the Qatari capital Doha to sign a contract with Al Rayyan club. According to Al Arab daily newspaper, Al Rayyan has already concluded the negotiation with the Iranian defender and just awaiting the signatures on the contract.

According to sources, after accepting the conditions of a contract renewal with Khalilzadeh, Persepolis is now dealing with the news of his departure from Iran to sign a contract with Al Rayyan of Qatar Star League. The news caused the club to send a letter to the Qatar Football Federation and Al Rayyan Club regarding the legality of any contract between Khalilzadeh and any Qatari club.

Khalilzadeh, whose contract with Persepolis runs for another season, unilaterally terminated his contract with Persepolis due to the club’s breach of payment clauses. It seems that Persepolis has not paid the player, which is a very common practice in Iran’s football, and hence the player is legally allowed to cancel that contract.

Recently recalled to Team Melli after a seven years gap, the Persepolis defender was supposed to sign his contract extension and amendments at 10:30 AM on Wednesday at the club premises. However, Khalizadeh was upset by some contradictory behaviors of the club’s managers and left for Qatar.

Before traveling to Qatar, Khalilzadeh was contacted by Yahya Golmohammadi, the head coach of the team, Attempts to reach him was futile, because Persepolis defender mobile was turned off. However, Khalilzadeh, after leaving for Qatar, sent a message to Yahya Golmohammadi informing him of his intention to leave the team while wishing him personally and Persepolis’s success in the final of the Asian Champions League.

The message shocked the Reds’ coach, but Golmohammadi has decided not to react to it for the time being.

Khalilzadeh has left Persepolis while there is no news of his official agreement with Qatar’s Al Rayyan Club. However, it is possible that his contract will be signed today, given the player’s presence in Qatar.

Team Melli against Mali is cancelled today.

Team Melli was supposed to play its second friendly game against Mali in Antalya Stadium, Turkey this Evening. Due to the outbreak of COVID19 in the Mali squad, only 13 players were fit enough and available for the match.

The match then declared canceled

Both of these teams were featuring in their second friendly fixture during this international match window with Mali having defeated Ghana 3-0 on Thursday, while Iran enjoyed a 2-1 victory against Uzbekistan on Friday. This game was in doubt a couple of days ago due to four unnamed players in the Mali squad testing positive for Covid-19, the fixture is still scheduled to take place, but it is unknown how much more of a weakened team that Mali will field.

The African nation had been showing some good solid form in recent outings and they go into this contest with six clean sheets in their last nine games but without knowing how strong they will be it’s hard to be confident in their chances. Iran’s new coach Dragan Skocic will want to take a look at as many players as he can so expect some changes from the line-up against Uzbekistan. Sardar Azmounm the sorer of the opening goals, left the camp early Mali as he has returned to his club, Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia.

Azmoun out of Mali match

Sardar Azmoun, Team Melli, and Zenit’s forward did not join the Team Melli squad on its flight to Turkey

with the convoy of the national team. According to ISNA, the convoy of the

Team Melli left for Turkey this morning (Sunday) to play an international friendly match against Mali national team on Tuesday. However, the test captain and the Russian side Zenit striker did not accompany the squad on this trip.

Reacting to the player’s absence from the match against Mali, the Football Federation reported on its website that Dragan Skocic, the head coach of the national team, agreed with the request by Zenit Club for an early return of the player back to St. Petersburg.

Thus, Azmoun who opened the scoring against Uzbekistan, will not accompany the national team in the match against Mali. Yesterday, the Mali Football Federation announced that four of its players were tested positive with the Coronavirus and are currently in quarantine. The Football Federation of Iran also investigated this issue at the Corona Center at its headquarters and issued a travel permit for the national team against Mali.

Team Melli defeats Uzbekistan.

In the first match under the Croatian head coach Dragan Skocic, Team Melli defeated Uzbekistan in Tashkent 2-1.

The first half ended 1-0 for Iran with Sardar Azmoun (44′) scoring from just outside the box. Mehdi Taremi (51′) scored Iran’s second from a penalty spot after he was fouled in the box. E. Shomurodov scored Uzbekistan’s only goal two minutes after Taremi’s penalty.

Both teams have introduced new faces in their line ups with Iran using many of the Persepolis players that have just qualified for the final of AFC Champions League. Sardar Azmoun could have put Iran in the lead but his tame shot missed the target after a quick counter-attack. Iran had most of the possession and was dangerous on the counter.

In the second half, the pace of the match slowed down after the two goals. The various substitution meant that both teams had difficulty finding their rhythm with both sets of new players finding it hard to gel.

The new-look central defense of Khalilzadeh and Kanani-Zadegan was quite solid but a momentarily poor marking allowed  Shomurodov to score a soft goal against Team Melli. Payam Nazmand could have done much better though. The Sepahan debutant still needs much more experience with the team. His punching of the ball on crosses were less than satisfactory and allowed the Uzbek to counter again.

The midfield still lacks a creative schemet=r although Ali Gholizadeh provided some promise.

Upfront, Azmoun, and Taremi combined to create many chances but the finishing needs to improve.

Iran will p[lay Mali next in Antalya m Turkey.

Two Mali players switch allegiance

Mali national football team received disappointing news  before the friendly international game against Iran.

According to ISNA and quoting the malijet site, the national football team of Mali and Iran should play in a friendly match.

Prior to this match, the Mali coach hoped to improve the quality of his team by inviting two valuable English Premier League players. Former Barcelona player Adama Traore, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and new Everton star Abdullah Ducoure, who were called up to the Mali national football team for the first time, both players declined the Mali national team invitation and will not play against Iran.

Traore, who was also invited to the Spanish national football team by Enrique, decided to accept the Spanish invitation and play for this team. Ducoure also chose the French national football team and declined to accept his homeland football team. This was not the only bad news for Mali before the game against Iran. Hoffenheim striker Samasco also suffered an injury and is out of the squad and will miss the match against Iran in Antalya, Turkey.

The Iranian national football team, which appointed Dragan Skocic as head coach several months ago, will now play for the first time under the guidance of the Croatian coach.

Uzbekistan completes its squad for Iran match.

Uzbekistan national football team led by Vadim Abramov continues its preparation and training camp in Tashkent.
On Monday, the training session was held at the Bunyodkor academy. It was attended by 27 of the 30 players invited to the squad. Alo on Monday the legionaries Oston Urunov (Spartak Moscow, Russia) and Jasur Yakhshibaev (Shakhtar Soligorsk, Belarus) joined the squad

Uzbekistan and Iran will meet on the 8th at 18:00 in Pakhtakor stadium in a friendly international match.

Eldor Shomurodov (Genoa, Italy), Rustamjon Ashurmatov (Gwangju, South Korea), and Otabek Shukurov (Sharjah, UAE) are expected to join the squad in the training camp on 6 October.

Uzbekistan Squad

Goalkeepers:

Eldorbek Suyunov (Pakhtakor), Abduvahid Nematov (Nasaf), Rahimjon Davronov (Mashal)

Defenders :

Egor Krimec (Pakhtakor), Rustamjon Ashurmatov (Kwangju, South Korea), Igor Golban (” Navbahor “), Islamjon Qobilov (” Bunyodkor “), Ibrahimhalil Yuldashev (” Bunyodkor “), Hojiakbar Alijonov (” Pakhtakor “), Murad Kholmukhammedov (” Kokand-1912 “), Farrukh Sayfiev (” Pakhtakor “).

Midfielders:

Otabek Shukurov (Sharjah, UAE), Lutfulla Turaev (Bunyodkor), Abrorbek Ismoilov (Pakhtakor), Aziz Turgunbaev (Navbahor), Jamshid Iskanderov (Seongnam, South Korea), Hojimat Erkinov (Pakhtakor), Ikrom Alibaev (Seoul, South Korea), Akmal Mozgovoy (Nasaf), Oston Urunov (Spartak, Russia), Sanjar Kadyrkulov (Bunyodkor), Jaloliddin Masharipov (” Pakhtakor), Odiljon Hamrobekov (Pakhtakor), Sardor Sobirkhodjaev (Pakhtakor), Dostonbek Hamdamov (Pakhtakor), Azizjon Ganiev (Shabab Al Ahli, UAE).

Forwards:

Eldor Shomurodov (Genoa, Italy), Shahzod Ubaydullaev (Metallurg), Jasur Yakhshibaev (“Shakhtyor Soligorsk “, Belarus), Igor Sergeev (” Pakhtakor “).

First Skocic team list announced.

Team Melli’s list for the two international friendly matches has been announced.

Croatian Head coach Dragan Skocic announceD the players’ list following the conclusion of the AFC Champions League match between Persepolis and AL Nasr. Persepolis won the game on a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw and will meet the East Asian team in the final.

A number of senior players were excluded from the team amongst them Asshkan Dejagah, Omid Ebrahim, Jahanbaksh (injured), Shojaei, Beiranvand (Injured) and Pouraliganji

Meanwhile, Ghayedi, Najjarian, and Gholami have earned their first call to the senior team.

TEAM MELLI LIST

GOALKEEPERS

  1. NIAZMAND, Payam
  2. ABEDZADEH, Amir
  3. MAZAHERI, Rashid

DEFENDERS

  1. MOHAMMADI, Milad
  2. MOHARRAMI, Sadegh
  3. KANANI-ZADEGAN, Hossein
  4. GHOLAMI, Aref
  5. KHALILZADEH, Shojaa
  6. HOSSEINI, Majid
  7. NEMATI, Siamak
  8. NAJJARIAN, Mojtaba

MIDFIELD

  1. NOUROLLAHI, Ahmad
  2. KARIMI, Ali
  3. AMIRI, Vahid    
  4. TORABI, Mehdi
  5. GHODDOS, Saman
  6. HAJSAFY, Ehsan
  7. NOORAFKAN, Omid
  8. GHOLIZADEH, Ali

FORWARDS

  1. AZMOUN, Sardar
  2. TAREMI, Mehdi 
  3. REZAEI, Kaveh
  4. GHAYEDI, Mehdi

 

 

 

A serious error of judgment by AFC Disciplinary committee

Isa Al Kasir, The Persepolis Center Forward, was given the heaviest sanction possible by AFC for celebrating his goal against Pakhtakor. To add insult to injury, the 6-month ban came right before kick-off between Persepolis and Al Nasr in the Semi-Final of AFC Champions League 2020 in Doha.

No person would argue that contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigratory remarks or gesture has no place in football and any offender’s ban is justifiable, however, amongst the many experts that this website has asked, no one seems to know what exactly was the insulting behavior or any of those violations in Al Kasir’s gesture!!!

No one in his right mind would believe that the AFC  disciplinary committee while sitting a few thousand miles away in Kuala Lumpur,  has the divine power of correctly interpreting the signs that Al Kasir as being discriminatory, racist, or any incriminating offense. If no one in Iran knows, at least the experts that we approached, anything about discriminatory or the racial sign of Al Kasir’s celebration or even what it means.  How on earth, AFC did the trick?

What we have managed to collect, however, is some photos of Al Kasir identical celebration in the domestic league when he was playing for Naft Abadan.

Isa Al Kasir Rajabi has joined Persepolis on 1st September 2020, from Sanat Naft. He has scored in three consecutive games for Persepolis in the AFC Champions League 2020 and was considered the most important and pivotal player of the team going into the crucial clash against Al Nasr of Saudi Arabia.

However, three hours before the kick-off the news of his heavy ban based on unsubstantiated, unproven, and haphazard theory has shocked the squad. The timing was a perfect bonus for the opponent as good as AFC handing the match to Al Nast before the actual kick-off.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee decision, lacked any explanation of the nature of the so-called insulative behavior of the Persepolis player. There was also no sign on what was deemed unsporting, contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigratory in Al Kasir’s gesture, which he frequently performs after goal celebration. Al Kasir’s brother has told a local reporter that this gesture is a private game between him and his brother and has nothing to do with any race, religion, or any political opinion.

Such a heavy sentence deserves much more explanation. As a basic Human right, which the AFC is trying to protect, hearing the accused is a principle right. Was Isa Al Kasir given the chance to explain this gesture? What is the level of the committee’s knowledge of Iranian culture in Khuzestan and where did they reckon this violation has occurred?

When the Bahraini player was given a 10 match ban, with a similar gesture, he was clearly insulting the Chinese. There was no Chinese involved in the match against Pakhtakor and we doubt that Sanat Naft was playing a Chinese team in the domestic league when he carried out a similar celebration.

AFC has a lot of explanation to do to preserve the little reputation that it has in the West Asia region. Failure to act promptly will mean that AFC has developed a dictatorial power and has little regard for the spirit of the game, the fans, and the media. We hope that AFC is courageous enough to deal with this issue fairly and apologize for what looks like a serious error of judgment.

Isa Al Kasir suspended for six months!

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has banned Isa Alkasir, of Persepolis FC, from taking part in any kind of football-related activity for six months for violating Article 58.1 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code (2019 Edition). The ban will take effect immediately.

The player, who was also fined USD10,000, was found to have used a discriminatory gesture during the AFC Champions League (West) game against Pakhtakor on September 30, 2020, in Doha, Qatar.

Article 58.1 states that anyone who offends the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigratory words or actions concerning race, skin color, gender, disability, language, age, physical appearance, religion, political opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation, or ethnic, national, or social origin has committed an offense.

Al Kasir’s goal celebration is normally quite eccentric and has led to several awards of yellow cards, the last one was in the AFC Champions League matches when he took off his jersey after scoring, a punishable offense. In the offense that led to his ban, Al Kasir seemed to stretch both his eyes with his hands. Not clear what kind of a weird celebration was that or what or who Al Kasir was mocking. However, a Bahraini National Team player had a similar ban by FIFA after making a similar gesture to Al Kasir. Bahrain was playing Hong Kong away and the Bahrain player seemed to be mocking the Chinese race which is certainly a violation and a racist gesture. In Al Kasir’s case, there was no Chinese involved unless there is a hidden motive that only the AFC and Al Kasir understand.

Al Kasir not only misses the crucial semi-final of the AFC Champions League but also is deprived of a chance to play for Team Melli for the next six months. He was a strong candidate for selection in the Dragan Skocic list before his stupidity and petulant act.  Al Kasir ( his proper name is Isa Al Katheer, rather than the Iranian pronunciation) is a player from Khuzestan of Arab origin.

9 players in the initial Team Melli list

According to FFIRI Official website, nine layers have already been selected for Team Melli camp from Esteghlal, Sepahan, Tractorsazi and Foolad Khuzestan. The next list will be announce3d after the Al Nasr vs Persepolis game in the Finals of the AFC Champions League West region in Doha today.

The selected players are:

GHAYEDI, Mehdi (Esteghlal)
GHOLAMI, Aref  (Esteghlal)
HAJSAFY, Ehsan (Tractorsazi)
HOSSEINI, Majid  (Esteghlal)
KARIMI, Ali  (Esteghlal)
MAZAHERI, Rashid (Tractorsazi)
NAJJARIAN, Mojtaba (Foolad Khuzestan)
NIAZMAND, Payam (Sepahan)
NOORAFKAN, Omid (Sepahan)