Coaches:
Iran: György SZUCS
Japan:Ken NAGANUMA
The match turned out to be one of the most eventful in the history of Iranian football. A historic and controversial game that was marred by on-pitch violence after the final whistle. It was one of the most momentous events in the history of Iranian football.
The first half was uneventful until the 37th minute when Hamid Shirzadegan scored the first goal as the first half was coming to end with Iran leading 1-0.
In the second half, the Japanese started playing rough with some wild tackles flying. The Thai referee ignored much of the aggression of the Japan Team. However, that leniency by the ref led to some rough battles and some ugly scenes. The Japanese scored an equalizer in the 46th minute from their star player Kunishige Kamamoto. Japan then scored the second in the 84th minute.
While Iran was fighting hard for an equalizer in the precious few seconds remaining, the Thai referee called a penalty for Japan right before the 90th minute of the match. Team Melli captain Mohammad Ranjbar protested against the decision and was subsequently sent off. Japan scored the penalty as Aritatsu Ogi beat Asli in goal scoring the third for Japan to secure the match.
Right after the referee blew the whistle to end the match, Hossein Mobasher, head of the Iran delegation and President of the Football Federation ran into the field to protest against the referee. He wanted to demonstrate his displeasure by hand movement, while the Thai referee, believing that he is going to be attacked, suddenly punched him in the face leaving him with a bleeding nose and face.
The scene of blood on the face of Mobasher triggered a series of events. Mobasher, a well-respected and honorable man was hardly a fighter. He was also a humble man who, with Mehrab Shahrokhi was washing the dirty jerseys of the players after the end of the match. As Team Melli players were slowly leaving the pitch, the incident triggered a mass return back to the center of the pitch were Mobasher was lying holding his bloody face.
The first two players who rushed back to the pitch to rescue Mobasher were Homayoun Behzadi and Aziz Asli, both of whom attacked the referee.
On the other hand, Ali Abdo, the famous bowling manager, and Amir Ehteshamzadeh, the 32-year-old champion of the national Table Tennis team, also ran into the pitch and attacked the referee. A hard fight took place on the ground. "He was my favorite forward in the national team in the 1970s and a very educated and honorable man," said Amir Ehteshamzadeh, justifying his presence on the pitch cum battlefield. "When I saw that he was beaten, blood got in front of my eyes and I rushed to the pitch, and Ali Abdo, who was a professional boxer, also came. Suddenly, Japanese players got involved, and shortly after that Thai riot police came on the field."
"In one scene, I suddenly saw someone jump like a leopard aiming at Homayoun Behzadi with an intention of headbutting Iran forward. I was able to hold the camera strap in my hand and hit it hard on the head of the attacker before he can harm Behzadi. The attacker suddenly fell to the ground. I think he will remember the scene for the rest of his life."
The incident escalates to a diplomatic level. The Shah of Iran interfered directly in support of the squad. The Shah had a close and cordial relationship with the King of Thailand, and the authorities in Bangkok dropped all charges against Iranian players who attacked the referee.
The only casualty was Ranjbar who served a one-match ban due to his dismissal from the match. |