Tehran.

Esteghlal club, one of the two major clubs in Iran , has decided to kick Mojtaba Jabbari out of the club, according to a post in the club’s official website. There was no immidiate confirmation from Fathollazadah, Estghlal’s Chief Xexecutive or any other official in this regards.

Jabbari ,  Team Melli and Esteghlal midfielder , has been in an excellent form of late and a pivotal player for both the club and country. Jabbari helped his club to the Championship title and also to the qualification to the quarter finals of the AFC Champions league this season. With Team Melli , he was a a vital player in the last three matches that Team Melli has won to gain qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Jabbari has apparently gone to the club headquarters to demand his much due payment of his salary. The club officials have once again been reluctant to release the money,  most probably due to non-availability of cash in the club bank account. When contacted to comment on the situation , Mojtaba Jabbari refused to comment any further other than to confirm that he went to the club premises for financial settlement.

Esteghal club , like many others in the league, is a notorious  bad payer. Non-payment of wages,  very late payment and bounced checks has been a hallmark of this very well supported club.. Several local and foreign players have filed law suites against this financially strapped club. Jabbari , who is quite outspoken , has argued his case with the officials of the club and threatened legal action. Esteghlal , always club always demands that players be patient and accept delays of wages simply due the delay of handout by the government.

This Transgression of Estghal club towards its players , some of whom are national assets of the country’s football, has left a bitter taste with many footballers. Countless number of footballers have on-going financial disputes with the club for the same reason, non-payment of wages according to the contract. Players such as Nekounam , Borhani, Hamoodi and Hatami are a few that have recently spoken out in public against Estghlal’s failure to honor its financial commitment.  Players who dare to demand their rights like Jabbari , are labeled as disloyal and subjected to harassment  directed at them by the club officials and part of  the fans who are driven and paid by by the club hierarchy.

Esteghlal, like Perspolis and the majority of Sport clubs in Iran , is run by government which provides financial support. The club has very limited self-generating revenue and has been suffering from financial problems for long years. Despite the shortage of funds, Iranian clubs spend millions of dollars each year in player transfers.

Nothing will tarnish the great achievement of Team Melli in reaching the World Cup finals, not even the dastardly behavior of the Korean fans in Ulsan who pelted the players with cans and bottles, in protest against Iranian players celebration & reaching the World Cup. Apparently joy and celebration is only exclusive for the Koreans only, anyone else is not allowed to do it in the Korean stadiums. Team Melli players were risking serious injury by objects thrown from the stands. That says a lot about the standard and behavior of the South Korean football fans in contrast to the common belief.

On the pitch, where it really mattered, Carlos Queiroz had one thing in his mind and that was to tighten up the defenses and hit them on the counter. The players  executed the game plan  to perfection and the result speaks for itself. The grand prize for their gallant effort was qualification to Brazil. Not a pretty game by any means, except for that marvelously taken goal by Reza Ghoochannejad, who is a slowly becoming a cult hero in Iran. When there is such a prize at stake, the games beauty becomes the least of priorities in today’s football.  The goal Iran scored did not come from any executed plan move,  but it was the result of an opportunistic vulture like pounce by the Standard Liege player , who timed himself perfectly, nicked the ball from the hesitant Korean defender to break free and send the ball curling round the advance goalkeeper. JUNG Sungryong, despite his brave effort , could not do much expect to pick the ball from the back of the net. It was a marvelous goal , worthy of taking a team to the World Cup.

That one goal was enough, despite a close shave near the end when the Korean forward header missed the goal in the dying seconds with Uzbekistan leading Qatar 5-1 at the other match.  The South Koreans, ever so egotistical about their football achievements, have failed again to beat Iran in their own soil in an official match since 3rd Jul 1977 when the two rivals met first in the 1978 World Cup qualifiers in Busan.  That match ended in a goalless draw.

Although this Korean team was there for the taking as their performances have left a lot to be desired for the Korean fans and the press, it is never an easy task beating this team at home. Star studded with a large number of European based players who boasted quite a lot in pre-match statements, it was always going to be difficult for Iran. For Queiroz and his men, defending for 90 minutes against South Korea,  was no easy task with and risks attached. With the aim of a draw, which would have sent both teams, Iran’s offensive moves were scares. There was  virtually no shoot at goal in the first half by Team Melli, however, the figures and  statistics that really matters is the goal scored and that went Iran’s way.

It is no secret that Queiroz was losing support in Iran. A series of lackluster performances and really disappointing results, left the fans dreading yet another world Cup missed.  Lying third in the group behind Uzbekistan and Korea in turn of the year 2013, Team Melli had a mammoth task with 3 matches to play. The win in Qatar, not only boosted the confidence but it also showed that this team can play modern and pretty football. Then came the Lebanon game where Team Melli also reminded the rest , that on top of  attractive football , it also can score goals. 6 points out of six, two wins in a row, 5 goals in the bag, it was difficult to see anything but a convincing result for Iran in the final match away to the boastful Koreans.

Then came an added incentive when the Korean coach , ever so haughty  and his Europe  based players, ever so overconfident , increased  the rivalry by promising their fans  to  give the Iranian a good beating by 4 goals,  and making Iran’s Captain Nekounam cry with tears of blood !  It was becoming a personal challenge. Those trash talks and Choi’s  rhetoric’s , enticed the zealous Queiroz  who was determined to make the Korean Coach eat his words.

Indeed he did. It was Queiroz who was laughing all the way and making it to Brazil, while Choi, who felt sorry for Queiroz  because he predicted that the Portuguese coach will be watching the world cup on TV at home, would be apparently doing so himself as he resigned , or pushed out of his job, depending how you look at it. The karma has hit Choi.

Iran is in the World Cup and deservedly so. There is still a plenty of work to do , but the biggest question at this point remains whether Queiroz , who felt some intense pressure in his two years spell, will continue or not.

The goal that took Iran to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil.

 * Iran win 1-0 in Ulsan to qualify for Brazil finals

 * Koreans also through on goal difference over Uzbekistan

 June 18 (Reuters) – Iran produced a resolute defensive display to snatch a 1-0 away win over South Korea on Tuesday and qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil.

 Despite the defeat, the Koreans also qualified for the finals after they edged Uzbekistan – 5-1 winners over Qatar on Tuesday – for the runners-up spot on goal difference.

 Forward Reza Ghoochannejhad was Iran’s hero, latching on to an error by defender Kim Young-gwon to score the winner in the 60th minute with the visitors’ only real chance of a one-sided match in Ulsan.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz punched the air in delight at the final whistle after their third qualifying win in June sealed a fourth finals appearance.

 The under-pressure Portuguese had traded verbal volleys before Tuesday’s Group A clash with Korean counterpart Choi Kang-Hee, who had vowed to beat Iran and force them to watch the World Cup on television after being “badly treated” in the reverse fixture in Tehran last year.

 Choi’s side showed the same intent by making a fast start at the Ulsan Football Stadium, with lanky striker Kim Shin-wook going close to giving them a fifth-minute lead, but his volley flew just over the bar.

Kim was part of an attacking lineup employed by Choi with Son Heung-min, Lee Dong-gook and Ji Dong-won all starting, but the home side were guilty of using too many long balls for the tall striker rather than mixing up their play.

 Iran knew a draw was likely to be enough to qualify unless Uzbekistan could score a four-goal win over Qatar, so they chose to sit back and allow Korea plenty of possession. But the home side failed to create many chances.

 The Koreans had a strong appeal for a penalty five minutes before halftime, when midfielder Lee Myung-joo raced clear only to be brought down by Iran fullback Khosro Heydari and goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi, but the referee awarded a goal kick.

Korea were sluggish at the start of the second half, and Iran grew in confidence before taking a shock lead.

 Korea defender Kim Young-gwon missed his kick as he attempted a back-pass to his keeper, and Ghoochannejhad raced through to curl home a left-foot shot.

Choi introduced AFC player of the year Lee Keun-ho as the hosts searched for an equaliser against an Iran team that had conceded just two goals in their previous seven qualifiers.

Kim Young-gwon came close to making up for his error when he fired a sharp shot in the 76th minute that was well saved by Ahmadi, while his glancing header two minutes from time sailed just wide.

 Substitute Lee had half the stadium on their feet thinking he had scored a 94th-minute leveller but his header edged past the far post with Ahmadi motionless.

 While the Iranians celebrated, the Korean players waited for news of Uzbekistan, who cruised past Qatar 5-1 but ultimately fell two goals short of overhauling Korea on goal difference, allowing them to rejoice at a ninth World Cup finals appearance.

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S Koreans angry over Iran victory

June 18 2013 at 07:25pm
By SAPA

 

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