Author: admin

Big blow for Omid team.

Iran Olympics football Team U 23, Omid Team received a setback when it was confirmed that 3 of its top players will not be competing in the finals of the AFC U23 championship which is also the qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Men Olympics Games Football competition.

Sardar Azmoun, Saeed Ezatollahi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh will not be part of the squad that will be competing in Doha in two weeks time.

Habib Kashani , the head of Team Omid said "These 3 players are registered as professionals in European club. We were unable to obtain the release from their respective clubs. The competition for the Olympics are not played in FIFA days and as such these clubs are not obliged to release their players for their national representative teams. All these clubs will be either busy in their own league competitions or preparing for the league as the case with the two Russian based players are."

Sardar Azmoun, Saeed Ezatollahi  (FC Rostov) and Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar) are also in Team Melli squad in addition to playing for the U23 team. Their  quality and European experience is considered vital for the Omid team which is trying to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 40 years. Kashani , however, played down the significance of the 3 players absence and said that their team has been mainly competing and training without the 3 players most of their campaign and their absence for the final will not produce a shock for the team.

Iran, under coach Mohammad Khakpour,  will be playing in Group A with host Qatar , Syria nd China. Omid's first match will be on 12th January against Syria U23.

Faghani referees FIFA Club World Cup 2015

Alireza Faghani, The Iranian referee who took control of the AFC Asian Cup 2015 has added another honor to his list by being appointed as FIFA Club World Cup 2015 referee.

The final match between Barcelona FC and the South American Champions  River Plate of Argentina is played in  Nissan Stadium (Yokohama) on Sunday 20th December.

Fagahi is the considered the top Asian referee and in recognition of his standard and record, FIFA trusted him with the most important match in its club competition calendar where players such as Messi, Neymar and Iniesta face the tough tackling Argentinian team known for their rough play.

Alireza Faghani is assisted on the line by Reza Sokhandan and Mohammad Reza Mansouri for the Final match.

Iran futsal sweeps past Mexico

Team Melli futsal defeated Mexico 5-1 on Saturday to continue its perfect record in the 2015 Chinese Football Association Futsal international tournament. Yesterday Iran defeated Myanmar 15-2 in the 4 team tournament opener.

In the earlier match on Saturday, Host China defeated Myanmar 4-3 to increase their points tally to 4 from two matches.

The 2015 Chinese Football Association Futsal international tournament organized by the Chinese Football Association is be held in Changshu City Sports Center from 18 to 20 May. The teams participating in this tournament are Mexico, Myanmar, host China in addition to Iran.

Iran will be meeting Mexico for the title decider on Sunday. Team Melli needs a draw to grab the title.

Iran futsal routs Myanmar

Iran Futsal team opened its account in the China International Futsal tournament 2015 in Changshu city with a routing of Myanmar. In the second match of the tournament played on Friday , Team Melli futsal team mostly  playing with young players while occasional minutes were given to the seniors,  defeated Myanmar 15-2.

The first half ended 8-0 in a match which was totally controlled by Iran from the word go,

Team Melli scored a further 7 goals in the second while conceding a couple in the process.

Iran scorers were: 

Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh (4), Mehdi Javid (4), Safari (3), Mohammad Koohestani, Afshin Kazemi, Mohammad Shajari and  Alireza Vafaei

In the opening match of the tournament, Host China drew with Mexico 3-3 . The North American team will be Iran's next opponent on Saturday.

Iran participate in China Futsal tournament.

Iran Futsal team will play in a 4 side round in China on Friday ribbon tournament The 2015 Chinese Football Association Futsal international tournament organized by the Chinese Football Association will be held in Changshu City Sports Center from 18 to 20 May. The teams participating in this tournament are Mexico, Myanmar, host China in addition to Iran.

Iran will be the favorite despite missing 3 players who missed the flight due to injuries and other problems. The Chinese team three games will be broadcast live or taped on CCTV and a number of provincial-level TV.

Changshu is the second city to host international futsal tournament, the Chinese team won the runner-up in the last edition. Before the game, the Chinese coach Zhiping said the Chinese team tournament consists mainly of young players. He added that their main rival is Iran, and in order to defeat the powerful Iranians , they have to outrun them in the match. The Chinese team will go all out to do well in this tournament although they are facing a powerhouse of Asian Futsal.

Futsal is one of the world's fastest sport popular with higher ornamental, it is to improve the football skills, agility and speed education platform.

Matches schedule

(all time local China time GMT +8)

Friday 18th Dec 2015 19:00 China vs Mexico 21:00 Iran vs Myanmar

Saturday 19th Dec 2015 19:00 China vs Myanmar 21:00 Iran vs Mexico

Sunday 20th Dec 2015 19:00 China vs Iran 21:00 Mexico vs Myanmar

Daei scathing attack on Iran's football regulations

 

The peculiar and unique regulations of some of the football laws in Iran, has resulted in a scathing criticism by the outspoken Ali Daei.

The ex-Team Melli captain and the world's top international goal scoring record holder is currently the head coach of Saba Qom. In his short tenure with Saba , he has masterfully managed to create a solid team that has been climbing up the league table all the way as high as number 3.

Ali Daei was furious after the federation has ruled against Saba Qom using Farid Karimi in the match against Malavan Anzali and the forthcoming top of the table clash against Esteghlal Tehran. Karimi was undergoing the mandatory 2 years Military Service. During this time, Tractorasazi , managed to secure his services as a football player The team from Tabriz is among the few authorized clubs in Iran who are allowed to register  players during their 2 years’ service while they are denied the chance of playing for their team. Karimi has finished his Military Service in September and as such he should have been released to his original club, Saba Qom.  Tractorsazi , however, did not release Karimi until November!

Daei questioned several acts of injustice,  according to him , that resulted in his team being knocked out of the Hazfi cup. "In which system would you find a player that belongs to the club, who has been promoted through the ranks of the club, and gets his wages from the club, conveniently turns up for the opposition and plays  in an important game in a cup competition ? "  Daei said in a pre- match press conference today.

"Mr. Hassanzadeh, the head of the Disciplinary committee, claims that in certain cases his committee has the right to arbitrate. I want to ask him, on what basis he intervenes and approves a sanction against my player, while the law very clear states that as soon as the player has finished his service, he is free to play with his club. What part of this law is confusing to Hassanzadeh in order for him to intervene and issue a contradicting order?"

"This system of playing for a military Club is unique to Iran and quite unfair." Daei added.

Ali Daei , is part of increasingly large number of footballers, coaches and administrators who are critical of this system of Military teams getting unfair advantage by using players of other teams. However, only a few have been  vocal about it, Ali Daei being one of them. The ex-Persepolis and Bayern Munich players is one important personality in Iran's football whose words can make a difference.

In the Persian Gulf League , Saba Qom is currently lying fourth in the table with 25 points. Daei's team will be facing Esteghlal Tehran lying second with 27 points on Thursday.

Team Melli without kit sponsors

Team Melli is currently suffering an acute shortage of kits for players.

The current contract between FFIRI and UHLSports has expired and was not renewed despite a good offer from the German kits manufacturer. The relation between FFIRI and UHLSports was marred by complaints from the coach and players on the low quality of kits provided by the supplier. UHLSports , a German company that adheres to the highest standards and qualities , investigated the complaints and found out that the National Team of Iran has been provided by fake UHLSports kits!

The supplier strongly denied that those low quality fakes has originated from its warehouses or were part of any consignments delivered to Team Melli.

The marketing department of FFIRI has been claiming that Kit Suppliers are lining up to sign a contract to sponsor Team Melli. The fact remains that after 5 months of the last contract expiry , there is still no sign of any sponsor nor is there any contracts with famous world kit suppliers as FFIRI insinuated. 

The situation was so bad in the last match against India in Bangalore that the Team officials had to go to the market to buy some clothing and kits for the players! The kit that Team Melli was wearing  for the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers were from old stock still remaining as UHLSports has not supplied any new kits since the contract ran out.

Despite this embarrassing situation that Team Melli , the number 1 ranked team in Asia , is faced with short of essential kit, the FFIRI management , as always refused to admit any shortcomings and insist that the negotiations are going on to find a sponsor. 

 

Iran Futsal in a challanege to regain the lost title.

Iran's futsal team will be rearing to go and prove it is the best in the continent come February next year.

In the draw for next years AFC Futsal championship held in Tashkent , Iran was drawn in Group B along with  Iraq, China and Jordan. Team Melli Futsal team has recently enhanced its  global reputation by losing narrowly to host Brazil in the Grand Prix Du Futsal.

The  Reigning champions Japan have been drawn against Australia, Malaysia and Qatar in the group stage of the AFC Futsal Championship Uzbekistan 2016.

The Japanese, who downed Iran on penalties in the 2014 final hosted by Vietnam, find themselves in Group D for the 2016 edition, while hosts and 2014 third-placed finishers Uzbekistan were drawn in Group A alongside Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan and Saudi Arabia.

 Thailand, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei and Tajikistan are in Group C.

The winners of the semi-finals will advance to the final and the two losing teams will play in the 3rd/4th placing match. The four losers of the quarter-finals will then feature in play-off matches to determine the 5th placed team.

The top five teams will qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016.

The Groups: Group A: Uzbekistan, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia Group B: Iran, Iraq, China, Jordan Group C: Thailand, Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Tajikistan Group D: Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Qatar

Key Fixtures: 10 Feb 2016: Opening match - Iraq v China 17 Feb 2016: Quarter-finals 18 Feb 2016: Play-offs for four losing quarter-finalists 19 Feb 2016: 5th place play-off, semi-finals 21 Feb 2016: 3rd/4th place match, final

GROUP B 

Tashkent 

10 February 2016  16:00 (UTC+5) Iraq v China   10 February 2016 19:00 (UTC+5) Iran v Jordan

12 February 2016 16:30 (UTC+5) China v Iran 12 February 2016 19:00 (UTC+5) Jordan v Iraq

14 February 2016 16:30 (UTC+5) Iran v Iraq 14 February 2016 16:30 (UTC+5) China v Jordan

Kaffashian offices raided by government officials.

Ali Kaffashian was questioned by government officials and his offices was rummaged on Sunday. 

The head of Iran's football federation was not taken into custody but the officials carried with them several documents of unknown nature for examination or as evidence.

Reza Hassankho , the head of security in the FFIRI has confirmed that government officials have visited the federation's headquarters in Seoul street of Tehran and questioned the Head of the federation. Hassankho did not elaborate on the reason behind this unexpected move neither did did he indicate which government agency had carried out the operation. The position of Head of Security in the FFIRI is normally "recommended" by the  government through the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

Ali Kaffashian has been facing several corruption allegations but none was proven until now. He will stand for re-election in a few months time and this incident might be a move to tarnish his image by none other than his sworn foe, the Minister of Youth and Sport.

No comments or statements from any government ministries were issued.

Vahid Shamsaee wins AFC Futsal Player of the Year 2015 award

New Delhi: Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s Annual Awards extravaganza was held to much acclaim in New Delhi, India on Sunday.
On a night when the AFC acknowledged the continent’s best players, officials and administrators, there can be little doubt that the high profile gathering in the Indian capital was nothing short of a resounding success. From an impassioned speech about Asian football’s rise to power and bright future courtesy of AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, to stellar cultural performances and the crowning of the AFC Player of the Year, the evening provided something for everyone as glitz and glamour shared the stage with the continent’s finest. Here's a full list of the 2015 AFC Annual Awards winners: AFC Member Association of the Year Inspiring Japan Football Association Developing Hong Kong Football Association Aspiring Bangladesh Football Federation AFC Dream Asia Award Chinese Football Association Japan Football Association Vietnam Football Federation AFC National Team of the Year Men Australia National Team Women Japan Women’s National Team AFC Coach of the Year Men Ange Postecoglou (AUS) Women Asako Takakura (JPN) AFC Player of the Year Men Ahmed Khalil (UAE) Women To be announced at a later date AFC President Recognition Awards for Grassroots Football Inspiring Japan Developing Vietnam Aspiring Brunei Darussalam AFC Fair Play Association of the Year Japan Football Association AFC Club of the Year Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) AFC Futsal Player of the Year Vahid Shamsaee (IRN) AFC Futsal Team of the Year Tasisat Daryaei (IRN) AFC Youth Player of the Year Men Dostonbek Khamdamov (UZB) Women Rikako Kobayashi (JPN) AFC Foreign Player of the Year Ricardo Goulart Pereira (BRA) AFC Asian International Player of the Year Son Heung-min (KOR)
 

Individual Honors of Vahid Shamsaee