While the public is waiting with great anticipation for the privatization of both Persepolis and Esteghlal as a result of the government plan to let football run its own without government subsidies, the signs are quite different and contradictory.
Interfering in Football Federation (FFIRI) business.
Members of the general assembly of FFIRI have finally gathered for an extra ordinary meeting in Tehran on Monday. The FFIRI was under severe pressure to assemble amid variety of accusations of corruption, mismanagement and malpractice from parliament members and other challengers.
Many FFIRI members, who include all the league clubs, demanded that Kaffashian organizes an extraordinary meeting to respond to these perturbing accusations. After a long procrastination, the meeting was finally conducted.
The Minister of Youth and Sport, Goudarzi, who is not a member of the General Assembly , attended this meeting to confirm beyond any shadow of doubts that the government is sticking to its policy of Big Brother in Football. For meetings as such, normally a low-level government representative is present as an observer to ensure the application of the byelaws of that particular federation and the proper conduct of any elections. A person in the rank of Minister is NOT usually required for such tasks; however, Goudarzi has been blatant in his direct interferences in football affairs and even down to appointment of his own men in the federation management structure.
The meeting attended by 64 members, and one non-member plus his entourage, began with the financial issues. The Audit Firm that was working with the FFIRI last year, refused to continue working further with the federation for unknown reasons, according to Kaffashian. The FFIRI was severely criticized for monetary irregularities by its own members and regulators. Kaffashian admitted that his management should have been more transparent in its financial dealings. A new Audit Firm has been appointed, however, many questions are still pending which Kaffashian promised will be delivered by the new auditors.
How to dismiss the discontented?
21 members of the general assembly in a signed a letter demanded that the federation bans IRIB cameras from all football matches under the auspices of the federation like Team Melli, League and Hazfi matches. The government owned IRIB has persistently refused to pay broadcast rights for football matches. However, true to his interventions and tendencies to interfere in FFIRI activities, the minster of Youth and Sports objected to this move and said that general assembly members should not get themselves involved in such matters!
His Excellency the minister fell short of telling the assembly members to simply listen to orders and drink their cup of tea quietly before going home!
The role model
As soon as the meeting was over, the Minister who must have been anticipating lots of questions by the media regarding his role and unconventional presence in this meeting, made a quick dash to exit while ignoring the few reporters who intercepted him for questioning. The minster sped away in his car. A fine
Yet , another failure to deal!
While the government is under severe financial pressure due to the drop in oil prices , the move to rid itself from the heavy burden of running Esteghlal and Persepolis seems quite logical , in fact , quite essential. However, politically, there are factions in the same government that loathes losing control on the most popular sport in the land. It is question of prestige and interest.
The sale of the two clubs has failed for the 4th time. The most fervent of Persepolis club is one Hossein Hedayati who has bid every time the auction was on. This time however, Hedayati must regret his bid as he fell victim to his love and passion for Persepolis. Steel Azin owner has deposited 8.7 billion toman as a pre-requisite for the auction. After the conclusion of the auction and failure to declare a winner, a court in Tehran has impounded Hedayati’s deposit as a result of a petition by one of his many creditors.
Hedayati has been spending a fortune on football supporting Persepolis and Team Melli. One the other hand, there is also a line of creditors demanding money from Hedayati and many of the companies he owns.