The magnificent Azadi stadium is full up to the hilt with fans in anticipation of the kick off at 18:30 local time of the return final match between Persepolis and Kashima Antlers of Japan.

For the first time in international matches, a section is also allocated for females and families, allowing women to attend matches.

As usual for such important matches in Azadi Sport Complex, crowds have flocked to Azadi since last night with vendors reserving their space to sell all sort of merchandise including Persepolis banners and Iranian flags. Crowds from outside Tehran also use the space for sleeping before the match the next day.

This match has been sold out over a week ago as it went on-line to control black market, however, from previous experience with Iranian football, even a controlled sale of tickets on-line has resulted in thousands of ticket holders holding legitimate tickets being left behind closed doors in Azadi stadium.

The AFC has demanded strict control on the ticket sales and imposed strict guidelines on crowd safety including banning of spectators sitting on stairs leading to exits.

This match on Saturday evening is a great test for Iranian football both on and off the field. Organization and management has not been one of the great traits of Iranian administrators in football, unlike the footballers it produces. It remains to be seen who this match ends up in a positive impressions.

Persepolis is two goals behind, but it is not a lost cause at all as seen from the first game in Japan. Persepolis has Siamak Nemati suspended due to his red card.

Iran Beach Soccer National Team will meet Russia i the final of the Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer championship in Dubai.

After Iran defeated Egypt 3-1 in the first semi-final, Russia met Brazil in the other semi final to take a 3-0 lead against the Brazilians in the 3rd period. The Latin American champions came back strongly and managed to equalize 5-5 in a thriller. Russia won on [penalty kicks.

This is the second meeting between Iran and Russia . In group stages, Iran defeated Russia 3-2.

After the marathon semi against Brazil, the Russians will possibly suffer from fatigue. It will be to a great advantage for Team Melli to lift the trophy once again in the Intercontinental Beach Soccer championship

SEMI FINAL Report

Iran v Egypt 

The first of the day’s semi-final saw the undefeated Iran take on Egypt for a place in tomorrow’s final.  It was clear from the start how much passage to the last round meant to these teams…

The game started at an electrically high pace from the kick-off, with players chasing down every pass and getting away as many shots as possible. But defence was as good as attack, and the alert goalkeepers were kept in action at both ends.

Despite a high quantity of shots the scoreline remained unchanged all the way through the first period and far from being a dull match, the tension seemed to build as the players went back to their benches to regroup.

It was obvious that both sides were desperate not to fall behind and the second period went very similarly to the first: high intensity, but still no goals. That is, until, the Iranian number fifteen, Masoumizadeh, forced some space for himself to set up an overhead which the keeper couldn’t swat away, despite getting a finger to it.

The stalemate finally broken, the game suddenly took on a very different feel. Egypt were chasing and would have to increase their attacking play even more. The second whistle went with the slim lead still intact for Iran.

Quite the contrary of being content with their advantage, Iran had tasted blood, and pushed for more goals, hitting the post and piling the attacks on the Egyptian defence. A second goal was coming and the former champions found it through Mirshekari who came diving in at the back post to poke in an overhead shot that had been heading wide.

The huge numbers of Iranian fans in the crowd screamed with joy, but then the Egyptian captain, Samir, converted a penalty and the noise receded a little as the score sat at a close 2-1… but just for a matter of seconds as Kiani reinstalled a two-goal advantage with a sweet volley directly from the restart.

Egypt mounted some last-minute attacks but the Persians defended effectively to see out the final moments, sealing that crucial spot in the final. Egypt will play in tomorrow’s third-place play-offs, while Iran have the chance the repeat beach socer history.

Goals: 1-0: Masoumizadeh, min. 4 (2); 2-0: A. Mirshekari, min. 4 (3); 2-1: M. Samir, min. 4 (3); 3-1: M. Kiani, min. 4 (3);

Iran Beach soccer qualified for the Semi Final of Huawei Intercontinental Beach Soccer in Dubai after a thrilling win against Russia.

Iran against Russia was one of the day’s more competitive games as neither had lost and a winning streak was at stake. On top of that, both of these teams were previous winners of the tournament and had already qualified for the next round.

It took a while for the sides to break the stalemate and it was obvious from the kick off that neither wanted to blink first in this clash of beach soccer giants.

The 2013 competition winners, Iran, drew first blood as Akbari knocked the ball home from a corner with just a minute of the first period to go. The Russians mounted aggressive attacks in response but almost immediately after the first came a second Iran goal when Piramoun also got on the scoresheet.

The second period began with the Russian trailing and with a task on their hands to get back into the tie. The prolific Russians that had scored so many in the previous games could not break through. It wasn’t until the third period when Romanov pounced to cut the deadlock to just one that Russians came alive.

Then, who else but Zemskov - scoring his eighth goal of the tournament! – equalised and the Russian supporters exploded in celebration.

However, the level-pegging didn’t last long as the Iranian men in red found their champion in Behzadpour, who netted what would be the winner, and the other half of the stands, with just four minutes to go, started a party of their own.

Russia thought they’d equalised late on when Zemskov scored again but the referee, deeming that he had pushed the goalkeeper to the ground in the build-up, discounted it, and Iran, after having a goal of their own disallowed earlier on, were saved.

The Persians top the group and will meet Egypt in the first semi final on Friday while Russia finish in second and must face the powerful Brazil in the other semi-final..

Goals: 1-0: A. Akbari, min. 1 (1); 2-0: S. Piramoun, min. 0 (1); 2-1: Romanov, min. 8 (3); 2-2: Zemskov, min. 7 (3); 3-2: Behzadpour, min. 4 (3);

The Draw divided the 44 participating teams into two zones of WEST (West + South + Central) with 24 teams, and EAST (East + ASEAN) with 20 teams.

Qatar will host Group A as they aim to make their third appearance in the AFC U23 Championship Finals. They will face Oman, Nepal and Afghanistan.

Group B host Bahrain will attempt qualifying for the Finals for the fourth time, as they go up against Palestine, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Islamic Republic of Iran, the host nation for Group C, will test their mettle against Iraq, Turkmenistan and Yemen.

Saudi Arabia, the 2013 runners-up, will be aiming to better their previous best result after failing to progress past the group stage in January. They host United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Maldives in Group D.

Kuwait were among the first teams to participate in the first-ever AFC U23 Championship in 2013, and will bid to reach the Finals again when they face Jordan, Syria and Kyrgyz Republic in Group E.

Reigning champions and Group F hosts Uzbekistan will begin their title defence against Tajikistan, India and Pakistan in Group F.

Mongolia will be counting on home support when they host Group G, going up against DPR Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Cambodia have yet to reach the Finals but they are determined to impress when they welcome Korea Republic, Australia and Chinese Taipei in Group H.

After missing out on two editions, Group I host Myanmar, will play against 2016 winners Japan, Timor-Leste and Macau.

Group J host Malaysia, who reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in their history in January, are set to host China PR, Laos and Philippines.

Vietnam, who finished runners-up in the 2018 edition, will host Group K, where they will meet Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.

The 11 group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the Finals, with the host nation of the Finals receiving automatic qualification.

In the event that the host of the Finals, Thailand, finish among the qualified teams to the Finals (either top of the group or one of the four best second-placed teams), the next (fifth) second-placed team in the ranking among all groups will qualify to the Finals instead.

The 2020 Qualifiers will be held on March 22-26, 2019.

Following the challenges posed by the implementation of the law prohibiting the retired employees of the government from taking paid employment at any organizations, including NGO's, the Football Federation FFIRI was a tricky case. The Speaker of the Parliament summed up the issue, and said that all retirees (including those of the most challenging sports federation of Iran) will soon have to withdraw from their positions and posts.

According to ISNA, the issue of the exclusion of the law on football federation in recent months has posed a lot of challenges, and various interpretations of the law passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, but ultimately Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, during the meeting with the Board of Directors of the Football Federation, declared that retired Football Federation Directors are also included in the law governing retired employees and hence are required to enforce and abide by it.

Some scholars believed that implementing this law in football could have negative effects, including the suspension of the Iranian Football Federation FFIRI by FIFA , but the Speaker of the Consultative Assembly, emphasizing that the government has not been involved in the initiation, amendment or enforcement of this law, said it is willing to sign an official document with the federation and ensure compliance with FIFA Code of Conduct to prevent any possible involvement of the international body in the implementation of this law in Iran.

Based on that Mehdi Taj , President of the Football Federation, Mohammad Reza Saket, General Secretary, Abdul Kazem Taleghani, Heydar Baharvand, Mahmoud Islamiyan, Fereydoon  Isfahanian and Ali Kafashian, members of the board of directors of the federation are all forced to leave their posts in Seoul building.

The Consultative Assembly, is technically a non government legislative body and hence its decrees are not part of government executive powers. FIFA has not clearly defined such laws on non-government bodies interference. This law, which was debated in the Majlis( Parliament) has had good popular support.

Al-Shahaniyah club of Qatar Stars League announced yesterday that it has agreed terms with Ramin Rezaeian, Team Melli defender.

According to Qatar's Al-Raya newspaper, Rezaeian's contract with Al Shahaniyah will last to the end of this season and, if agreed, can be renewed and extended.

Rezaian in al-Shahaniyah has replaced by Oman's "Nader Avesh", who has undergone surgery for the cruciate ligament rupture.

Al-Shahaniyah club is trying to ensure that all documents are approved to enable him to play on Thursday against Al-Dhuhail.

Rezaeian has been a free agent from end of last season after being released by his Belgian club.