Tag: Ali Kaffashian

Queiroz finally signs

Shortly after his arrival in Tehran, Carlos Queiroz finally signed the contract with Ali Kaffashian making him the head coach for Team Melli for a period of 4 years.

On this occasion, Ali Kaffashian was quite happy to respond to the reporter’s question. He reiterated his administration position and strategy that the extension of the contract with Queiroz was carried out with the sole purpose of qualifying to the World Cup 2018 in Russia as top priority.

Although the contract extension is for 4 years it is conditional to Queiroz’a performance.> The continuation of Querioz work with Team Melli is dependent on the results of the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2015.

“This contract is in 3 stages, first the Asian Cup. We shall analyze the results before deciding to continue with Queiroz or not. Second, the qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2018 and then the final part is the participation in the World Cup finals” Kaffashian explained.  

There was no mention of any specific targets for the AFC Asian Cup 2015 , although Kaffashian has been on record saying that the AFC Asian Cup is not a main target or priority for FFIRI, That statement generated strong criticism by many , which forced Kaffashian to amend his statement and explain that his words were taken out of context!.

Kaffashian stated that Queiroz will help the u-23 team and other age group teams , though  he failed to mention if such function is an obligatory  part of his contract or done on voluntary basis whenever Queiroz feels like.

Commenting on the heavy defeat by the U23 team in the Asian Game against Vietnam, Kaffashian said “Every team in Asia is strong nowadays and we cannot ignore that fact! “

 

Queiroz reacts to Portugal coach Paulo Bento’s departure

(Reuters) – The race to replace departed Portugal coach Paulo Bento got underway on Friday although the job may not be that attractive with a previous incumbent complaining that it always ends in “torture and humiliation”.

With the country’s top coaches all otherwise engaged, there was no obvious favourite to replace Bento, a testy figure who led Portugal to the Euro 2012 semi-finals with an interesting midfield diamond formation but who ran out of inspiration.

Bento was in charge for just under four years before he left by mutual consent on Thursday, his position made untenable after a dismal World Cup in Brazil was followed by a shock home defeat by Albania in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier.

Former Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz, who also left the job under a cloud in 2010, said there was a sadly familiar air to Bento’s last few days in charge.

“I’ve watched men such as Jose Maria Pedroto, Juca, Mario Wilson, (Jose) Torres, (Humberto) Coelho, Artur Jorge and now Paulo Bento be tortured, offended and humiliated in an unjust manner,” he told Radio Renascenca, referring to past Portugal coaches.

“All the Portuguese coaches, who reached the national team on merit and on the credit they built up in Portuguese football, left through the side door with virtually no future in terms of football,” added Queiroz, who went on to coach Iran.

With a friendly away to France looming on Oct. 11, followed by a difficult Euro 2016 qualifier in Denmark three days later, there is little time to waste.

The timing of Bento’s departure, however, has made finding a replacement all the more difficult, given that the most obvious candidates are tied to their clubs.

Carlos Queiroz is supposed to return to Iran to sign a contract extension provisionally lasting six months up to the Asian Cup 2015. The announcement came from Ali Kaffashian , the President of FFIRI, however , Querioz himself has been tight-lipped and did not announce anything in public. The signing ceremony is supposed to be on Tuesday 

Kaffashian “Querioz has already started his work with Team Melli !”

In a quick interview by phone with Navad TV show, Ali Kaffashian told the show presenter Adel Ferdowsipour that “For all practical purposes, Queiroz has already started his job with Team Melli. We are only awaiting the signing of the contract.”

Kaffashian said “The final version of the contract is ready , and we will email it to him on Tuesday”

Ferdowsipour. Normally quite sharp at these instances, neglected to ask Kaffashian what is the nature of the work that Queiroz has started doing with Team Melli while he is away from Iran and the players!

So, if we to believe the President of the FFIRI  ( and the customary caution is strongly advised here), we have congratulate the fans of Team Melli as Queiroz has already started his work with the Team, albeit on remote control from long distance. The trivial matter of a Legal Contract will be sorted out somehow or another by Kaffashian, no doubt.

Hossein Faraki reacts angrily to FFIRI suggestions.

The prime candidate for Team Melli head coach , Hossein Faraki has reacted angrily to reports of his name being included in the list of the assistant coaches to Carlos Queiroz.

Meanwhile , in another interesting development , the Vice-President of FFIR Ayatollahei , has revealed that Ali Kaffashian has had talks with Hossein Faraki regarding Team Melli coaching job.

Hossein Faraki, guided Foolad Khuzestan to its second league title last season. However, the ex-Team Melli player surprisingly tendered his resignation citing health issues and requirement to have a knee operation. Many related this sudden departure from the League Champions Foolad Khuzestan , to prospect of a better job offer,  coaching of Team Melli in the post Queiroz era.

Today , Faraki reacted quite sharply and out of his calm character to the news that he is included in the list of the assistant coaches that has been leaked to the press , as possible assistant coach to Queiroz.

“With all due respect to the President of FFIRI , I announce my deep displeasure and anger towards the federations which is using my good name without my consent,  to serve their purposes. I totally condemn such an act and ask the good people there in FFIRI to respect people’s honor and refrain from misusing my name and reputation by fallacy “

Explaining further , Faraki said “I have worked alongside great coaches in Team Melli for 7 to 8 years. I have learned a lot from them and picked up valuable experience to help my career. My success last year was not a fly by the night thing, I have worked hard for it to become what I am.”

“Now that they are in a peril, because of their failures to secure the services of the coach they wanted, they are using our names as assistant coaches  to cover their shortfalls. None of them had the decency to talk to me about it. Who told them that I want to be an assistant to anybody?”

Faraki , who must have been quite disappointed after Kaffashian pursued Querioz said “They are in such a mess out there , their acts are closer to a comedy theater rather than professional management of football.”

FFIRI issued an official  denial yesterday.

Queiroz did not turn up !

Hordes of reporters and photographers were waiting in the Football Federation HQ at Seoul street awaiting the arrival of the Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz for the signing ceremony which was delayed several times until today , Tuesday.

Carlos Queiroz did not turn up.

The reporters and media men disappointedly started leaving the building at 15:30 without any statement from Kaffashian or the FFIRI. 

 Speculation is rife that the point of disagreement between Kaffashian and Queiroz is the financial compensation package if and when either of the two parties decides to terminate the contract.

Queiroz demands that , if FFIRI decides to terminate Queiroz contract after the Asian Cup 2015, he should be awarded 12 months’ salary in compensation, while FFIRI will only commit to 2 months on top of his service.

Similar compensation package difference has also been mention with the two parties unable to reach conclusion.

With the nonexistence of any official statement , it very much looks like it is the end of Querioz era in Iran.

 

The saga of Queiroz contract extension, to be or not to be.

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D-Day

Monday 25th August , set by the two parties , was the D-Day in Team Melli coaching circle.

Carlos Queiroz has been quite clear about his intentions. It is either a final agreement on all of the Portuguese coach demands and clauses of the contract , or Lisbon is the next destination of Señor Querioz and this time there will be no turning back.

On the weekend, and after initially declaring that the contract has been all but sorted out, Querioz come out of negotiation the happier man , despite his statement that in this contract , the Winner is Kaffashian. However , apparently there was some supposedly minor disagreement (5% according to Kaffashian) between the two parties that have developed into a major issue.

The Minster of Sport added another twist to the plot by stating that his Ministry does not think that Queiroz is the best choice for Team Melli.

 

The final decision.

We have lost count on the number of the final decisions that has been announced by both parties, but another final decision is now set for Tuesday 26th August 2014. (Tomorrow)

After today’s negotiation between Kaffashian and Queiroz which lasted for 90 minutes and finished by the end of business day at 1500 local time , and for the umpteen times it was reported that everything (…) has been sorted out and the contract signature will be adjourned to Tuesday to allow the Minister of Sport to view the contents and presumably give his approval as it seems that the Ministry will be the de-facto paymasters .

That is quite an interesting development and the saga continues in a merry-g-round fashion.

 Goudarzi-&-QueirozThe Minister of sport blamed the media for exerting undue pressure on FFIRI.

In yesterday’s meeting with the press , Mahmoud Goudarzi , the Minister of Youth and Sport in the Iranian cabinet of President Hassan Rouhani, blamed the Iranian sport media for putting undue pressure on the Football federation to re-sign Queiroz while other better or more appropriate options were available!.

Goudarzi said that the media has an influential role in the society but it is not always operate to the interest of the majority or the nation. The minister re-emphasized that he is not interfering in the work of the federation but simply providing advice, like hundreds of the critics who do the same on regular basis. The Minister lamented the result of Team Melli in the World Cup and expressed his surprise why some circles in Iran rave about the team’s result consider the feeble performance as honorable defeats!.

The news conference came a day before Carlos Queiroz’s ultimatum to the federation, that Monday will be the limit of his tolerance.

The turn of events has been very interesting in the last few weeks with many controversial backstage events popping up here and there. Except for the Minister’s objection or reservation on Queiroz contract, which was a common knowledge in the football community but not made public until yesterday, there are several controversial issues that is going around affecting Queiroz’s future in Iran. Of course, providing material evidence on the authenticities of most of the stories and claims are next to impossible. [/column]
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Lobbying.

By definition, a lobby is an organized group of people who work together to influence government or organizations decisions. Lobbying is a recognized and a wide spread practice in Iran’s football.

Players and coaches have known to have paid journalist and reporters to back them in their newspapers and magazines. Players have paid agents and reporters to get the big clubs to sign them. Club Chairmen paid under the table money to Sport papers Chief Editors to support the club programs and lobby the government for financial aid and assistance. Club Chairmen have engaged Member of the Parliament to lobbying on the clubs behalf in the Parliament. Even the help of Imam Joma ( the Imam of Friday prayers) have been sought to back up certain players or teams causes!

Whether such practice in ethical or even legal, is not the subject of discussion here. We are just reporting this lobbying that is quite common in Iran’s football.

Accusations , although is a small circle , has been rife that Queiroz, through his Attorney team and his local assistants who are well versed in Iranian football politics, have used some of this lobbying to pressurize the FFIRI into agreeing on many forced clauses on the contract. Goudarzi made a veiled reference to such claims by stating that the reporters and the media are exerting undue pressure on the FFIRI.

Queiroz-news-conference The stumbling blocks

There is no way for this federation to regularly secure foreign currency to pay Queiroz according to the contract without the approval or assistance of the government. If the government, through the Ministry of youth and Sport has reservations about Querioz, then the contract will practically be as good as dead.

The way Queiroz has turned the whole contract into a one sided self-serving one according to many critics, has not endeared him to many, especially those influential persons who can make his life easy or difficult as they wish. The differences between the objective and aspirations of Iranian football bureaucrats and Carlos Queiroz was quite evident in the World Cup, while the formers were thinking of qualifying for the next round in a group which many thought would be possible and achievable, Queiroz’s priority was to not concede goals or park the bus.

Finally, the final nail in the coffin may very well be was the preposterous relegation and marginalization of Iran’s competing in the AFC Asian Cup 2015. The biggest prize of the continent has eluded Iran for 40 years. Instead of working towards winning the title when Iran is one of the two top teams in the continent, the duo Kaffashian and Queiroz decided amongst themselves that Asian Cup takes second priority to qualification for the next World Cup in 2018!!

Team Melli coach Queiroz with FFIRI President Ali Kaffashian
Team Melli coach Queiroz with FFIRI President Ali Kaffashian

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Kaffashian – Queiroz will sign the contract on Sunday.

After the conclusion of the negotiation between Carlos Queiroz and Ali Kaffashian , the Portuguese coach spoke to the press while Ali Kaffashian flatly refused to answer any questions.

“I am happy to announce that everything is sorted out now and we will be signing the contract on Sunday” Queiroz said.

Asked if he will stay in Iran and begin his work with immediate effect , Queiroz provided a long and winding answer that no one could decipher! He commented on the other Group teams, however ,and admitted that “Bahrain , Kuwait and UAE are preparing well and are aiming to defeat Iran , which is very important to them” Queiroz said.

On the value of the contract , Queiroz refused to reveal any figures, adding that this is completely a private and personal matter. Queiroz however , is not aware that since his wages is from the public funds and/or  NGO , such figures must be provided according to the law to prevent corrupt practises. Not that such rules are always followed in the country. On the other hand , the Portuguese coach commended Kaffashian’s negotiation prowess and said that he is a very tough negotiator. “The only winner in this negotiation is Ali Kaffashian” Queiroz added.

Finally , there is a trait in Kaffashian’s character that has come to prominence. Kaffashian seems to be a tough negotiator, according to Queiroz , but somehow we need to take that statement with a pinch of salt.

With that news, and barring any last-minute hitches, Carlos Queiroz will be re-appointed as Team Melli head coach as of 24th August 2014 for a period of 4 years until the FIFA World Cup 2018. The most important task is the AFC Asian Cup 2015 preparation which is at the moment has not began yet. Iran has officially arranged one friendly match only until next year.

 

Queiroz and Kaffashian differences partially revealed.

Sources close to the negotiations between Carlos Queiroz and Ali Kaffashian have revealed some of the points of disagreement between the two party that has delayed the signing of the contract and threatens its cancelation.

Ali Kaffashian has verbally agreed to several demands of Queiroz particularly on the financial issues and payments. However, what Kaffashian has promised the Portuguese coach was in violation of the regulatory and government guidelines when it comes to standards of contracts.

While Kaffashian  and Queiroz verbally agreed on almost all the clauses , the Portuguese coach was shocked when the written copy of the contract was presented to him with many of the already agreed clauses dropped in the final version. Queiroz was not amused and resulted in the usual threats to abandon the talks.

Kaffashian , on the other hand , seems to be helpless to honor the verbal accords and finds himself in a precarious situation due to his poor knowledge of the contracts regulations.  One of the points was the demand by Queiroz for advance payment, a practice that is rarely seen in other parts of the world. The Iranian government authorities prohibit such practices and since the Ministry of Youth and Sports are the paymasters and the guarantor for foreign currency payment , that advance payment will be denied.

Another point of disagreement was the income tax that Queiroz demanded to be paid by the FFIRI. Such arrangement will help Queiroz avoid tax payment to his government in Portugal, in what it sounds like Tax evasion. However, the regulations by the government, requires the individuals to pay income tax directly to the Tax authorities. There is no exception to the rule for Queiroz.

 

Another round of negotiation is planned for Thursday between the two parties.

Kaffashian “We are still negotiating with Queiroz!!”

Ali Kaffashian , the president of FFIRI said today that his federation is still actively negotiating with Queiroz on the contract renewal.

Kaffashian who claimed some months ago , that the deal was finalized between FFIRI and the Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz for a 4 year contract extension , is just pending a signature,  has again changed his tone and said that both sides are now closer to signing than before. “If Queiroz signs the contract , we will send him the airplane ticket immediately”.

It seems that the airline ticket is the least of the concerns, as Queiroz is currently in Dubai right across the Persian Gulf where he is conducting his negotiation with Kaffashian.  The Portuguese coach is out of contract officially and has not agreed to an extension despite assurances from the top man of FFIRI. Kaffashian has mentioned that Queiroz has several reservations on legal issues and demands for the amendment of some clauses. No further details were given by the President of FFIRI.

One of the disputes between the two parties , as revealed by Kaffashian,  is the demand by Queiroz on the start of his duty. The Portuguese coach is willing to travel to Tehran to sign the contract , but then he wants to proceed on leave  immediately and fly out for Iran for a holiday ! Kaffashian has objected to this part and demanded that Queiroz starts work immediately after signing, especially since the League has already started and the third round matches of the Persian Gulf League will be played tomorrow and Friday.  Team Melli is already behind most of the other teams in preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2015. Qatar, which plays in the Group C along with Iran, Bahrain and UAE, has already finished two training camps and played several friendlies as part of their preparations.

In his last term, Queiroz has been spending large share of his time either on holiday or engaged in various assignments outside of Iran.

ISNA Sport reporter questioned the curiously long time that this negotiation has been going on , and asked if there are serious problems between the two sides, Kaffashian denied the existing of any problems but on the same token refused to disclose the reasons why the two sides have failed to agree.

Kaffashian confirmed that there is no financial liabilities of the federation until Queiroz signs a new contract.

While Kaffashian and FFIRI have bent all the way down and yielded to almost all of Queiroz conditions and demands, it is not clear now what is holding the signature of the contract. Kaffashian hint and reference to legal issues is vague however the possibility of Queiorz demanding that the contract be signed outside of Iran and under the legal jurisdiction and sovereignty of another country’s legal system is quite high. 

Sajjadi “FFIRI is the richest sport federation in Iran”

he Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports declared that almost all the sport federations that are preparing for the upcoming 17th Asian Games INCHEON 2014 are self-sufficient financially and do n require support from the ministry.

On the topic of Carlos Queioz contract extension, Nassrollah Sajjadi said that “The football federation in Iran is by far the richest sport federation. It is their decision to pick whoever coach they think is competent. It is their responsibility and they are accountable for it. They are certainly capable of handling the finances without any outside support. Since we do not interfere in technical issue related to the work of federations, it is natural that we cannot be a party is selecting a coach or paying for him.  We only give moral support. The only time we will interfere is if the appointment of a coach by the federation will affect the reputation of the country and sports in a negative way in our opinion.”
 

The Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports latest statement is another clear rebuttal to Kaffashian to stop him begging money from the government while the Ministry claims that the federation has enough money. FIFA will be paying FFIRI US$ 8 million for participating in the FIFA World Cup 2014. This is the same amount that Spain, England and Portugal will be receiving.

Sponsorship money has also more than doubled during the periods leading to the World Cup.

Queiroz situation has become more like a guessing game with the Portuguese coach dismissing Kaffashian claims that they have reached 90% of the agreement. In his latest comment to ISNA , Queiroz said “The negotiations is confidential , I have no idea where these figures are coming from.” Queiroz also denied any knowledge of any negotiation with the South African football federation in the aftermath of The South African Football Association (Safa) President Danny Jordaan statement yesterday.

Someone is not telling the truth here, but then again football has become so rich and powerful with huge money at stake, that false maneuvers, deceptions, fabrication amongst other misdeeds, are unfortunately quite common.