Following a temporary order issued by the Ethics Committee of the Football Federation, Behzad Dadashzadeh has been banned from all football and futsal activities for 20 days. The suspension will remain in effect while allegations he made regarding the national team are investigated.
According to ISNA, Dadashzadeh—a former player for Team Melli, Esteghlal, and Persepolis—recently claimed that the process of selecting players for the national football team has been influenced by financial transactions, suggesting that some players pay to receive call-ups. It is these claims that prompted the Ethics Committee’s interim ruling.
In a statement last week regarding the national team squad, Dadashzadeh said: “We must respect and support Ghalenoei’s current squad. I have told the coaching staff and my good friends that we need to give young players a chance to secure their football future. What goes on behind the scenes, however, is another matter. I have heard there have been fights and arguments at the Olympic Hotel over the squad list.
The fact that a few brokers have pressured the national team’s coaching staff to include their own players is questionable, though I cannot make a definitive judgment. Take Ehsan Hajsafi, for example—he is a separate case. He voted for Mehdi Taj in the Football Federation presidential election and, in return, secured his place on the national team. That is, he became a permanent fixture in the squad.
That said, most players invited to Team Melli have not performed badly in the league, to be honest. But Aref Aghasi’s invitation is debatable—given his performances at Esteghlal, it is unclear why he should have been among those called up. Back when we were playing, there was a lot of infighting, and some players resorted to lobbying just to make it to the World Cup.”
Allegations of under-the-table payments, excessive influence of player agents, and political maneuvering within football have persisted for many years. It is an open secret that such practices remain widespread. Dadashzadeh is far from the first person to expose this, but history shows that none of these claims are ever investigated by an independent counsel—for the simple reason that any real inquiry would expose many powerful figures.
Dadashzadeh, as a football veteran, has strong opinions about the state of various teams and the management of Iranian football. He has criticized the performance of the Persepolis team and its management and has emphasized the need for changes in this area. Behzad Dadashzadeh, with a rich history in Iranian football, continues to be recognized as an influential figure in the sport, and his opinions on Iranian football are taken into account.
In hindsight, looking at the current Team Melli squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even casual fans—let alone experts—might find reasons to suspect that Dadashzadeh has a point or two.