Tag: IRIFF

Mehdi Mahdavikia appointed as Head Coach of Omid team

Mehdi Mahdavikia was officially appointed as the head coach of Iran U23 (Omid team) and received his ordination from Shahabuddin Azizi Khazem, President of the Football Federation.

Mehdi Mahdavikia, who is working in Germany where he is based, arrived in Iran to complete the formalities of his appointment.

Meanwhile,  in addition to the coaching appointment, the former Team Melli player will also work as the technical advisor of the Football Federation. He will advise the federation president and various committees on technical issues for the improvement of the national teams and football league.


Mehdi Mahdavikia was working with Hamburger SV as a youth coach, and also manages his own youth academy, FC KIA.

Mahdavikia currently represents Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in the Football Advisory Panel of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), joining the body in 2019. On 15 May 2013, Mahdavikia was appointed as AFC Grassroots Ambassador.

Apart from being an icon of Iranian football, Mahdavikia is the first recognized Iranian coach wh is actually qualified by attending FIFA and German FA recognized courses.

His appointment as Head Coach of Omid Team is remarkable progress by FFIRI after a series of disastrous haphazard appointments of coaches, the result of which was total humiliation of Iran’s Omid Team and failure to qualify for the Olympics once again.

Queiroz Domestic League contempt

Queiroz’s verbal arson and laying into the Domestic Persian Gulf League in such cruel, public fashion in front of the Europeans journalists is yet another proof that nothing has changed with this self-serving head coach

True to the form book, he lashed out about the poor standards of Iran’s Persian Gulf League players, their coaches and the system of training deployed.

Queiroz has always had contempt for the league in Iran. He hardly attends league matches, preferring to watch the Legionnaires in Europe. It is a good break for him too, of course. For domestic league the lower ranks in Team Melli training Cadre do the mundane job of watching potential talents and future Team Melli players.

His justification for the low grade of the domestic league and players goes beyond technicalities too as there is some personal issues in it. It started more than 4 years ago when the league coaches vehemently rejected his grandeur plans of suspending the Persian Gulf League and focusing on Team Melli as the ideal preparation  for FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

He even warned or at least insinuated that if his plans are not implemented, Team Melli will be humiliated in Brazil against the might of Argentina! The whole of Iran and particularly the government must listen to him and abide to his wishes or else!

 

Apparently only the ‘idealists coaches and idiots’ in the local media dismissed his threats or doomsday scenario as a hoax. Many considered it yet another Queiroz’s “I know- better- than- you- all” rhetoric !  

In reality, Team Melli played one of its matches in the World Cup against Argentina. It was only the magnificence of one Lionel Messi, with his last gasp goal, that spoiled the party. It was nothing like the Saudi’s 8-0 drubbing by the hands of the German in 2002 or even the 7-1 humiliation of the host Brazil against the Champions Germany in the same World Cup 2014.

Queiroz was at it again during the post-match press conference after the Algeria win in Graz.

When Queiroz starts talking down the country’s assets and domestic players in such cruel, discourteous manner in public, he knows very well that he is untouchable. There is no culpability, no accountability and he certainly will not be questioned by the feeble Head of IRIFF, Mehdi Taj.

The Paradox of Queiroz claims are mind boggling too. Although he has little regards for the domestic league player, not a secret by a long shot, claiming their standards are way too low for the World Cup, he still demands that the league should be abandoned so that players are released fully for Team Melli!

Now, if they are not good enough to play in World Cup or have a long way to go, and everyone knows, even the Imam Juma of Sanandaj , that the nucleus of his team in Russia will be the Legionnaires, why deprive the clubs from revenue, players from competitions and fans from enjoying watching football matches?

Luckily, Carlos Queiroz is not the only experienced European coach making a living in Iran. Winfried “Winnie” Schäfer ,  who won the African Nations Cup in 2002 with Cameroon and now coaching Esteghlal, and Branko Ivankovic the famous coach of Persepolis and former Team Melli head coach, have both dismissed Queiroz claims. The German took a swipe at Queiroz today after a fine win by Esteghlal in the league against Naft Tehran 2-1. The winner was a last minute goal ironically scored by the rising star of Iranian football Omid Noorafakn, a product of the domestic league.

“All Esteghlal players members of Team Melli played very well and proved how good they are. Esteghlal players are quite ready to play in the World Cup, no doubts” Schäfer said in the post-match press conference.

 

 

Political interference in football is unfavorable, says IRIFF

Hamid Reza A’sefi , the international spokesperson of the Football Federation has stated that his organization does not approve of political decision making in football affairs. A’sefi was speaking to ISNA on the possibilities of Iran withdrawing from the  2016 AFC U-19 Championship . The 39th edition will be held in Bahrain between 13–30 October 2016. Iran has qualified for the finals.

“The federation is not in favor of politicians making decision in football affairs. It is against our wishes and is not acceptable by international standards. However, if there are strong objections from the government on security ground, then of course we have to oblige.”  A’sefi said. “We know that playing in Bahrain is akin to playing in Saudi Arabia , as the country is a satellite state of Saudis and run under their supervision. By withdrawing from this tournament we give the Saudi the best of excuses. It is exactly the what they seek for not playing in Iran. Their propaganda machine has been active for sometime now but we should not be deceived.”

“We have no issues playing in Bahrain. of course we will demand security precaution and assurances, else there is no other concerns.” 

“As for postponing or delaying the match against South Korea because of Ta’sooa , I think it will be extremely difficult. It is a holly day in the Iranian calendar , but FIFA does not entertain such demands and with the tight schedule already , I doubt that FIFA will even respond to such request. It is unfortunate, but we have to oblige and go along with the rules of FIFA” A’sefi responded on the question if Iran will demand a change of date for the South Korea match in Azadi on October 11th.

Iran is in Group C of the  2016 AFC U-19 Championship along with Japan , Qatart and Yemen.

The matches:

14 October 2016    19:30     Qatar v Iran
17 October 2016    16:30     Iran v Japan
20 October 2016    16:30     Yemen v Iran

IRIFF arranges a charter flight for Team Melli

IRIFF is to arrange a charter flight for Team Melli for their trip to Southern China. 

Team Melli is scheduled to play away to China on 6th September 2016 , 5 days after meeting Qatar in Azadi Stadium. ” the federation has managed to secure a charter flight for Team Melli for the long trip to Southern China .” IRIFF’s official  Gholamreza Behravan said . “This will reduce the burden of traveling and connection flights and will ensure that the players get enough rest before the match.”

IRIFF usually refrains from using charter flights due to cost, and uses commercial flights for Team Melli travels. However, in cases of difficult logistics, like the flight to Turkmenistan for the World Cup qualifiers, the federation has restored to charter flights while the air force has also supported the federation in some cases by providing military transport planes.

Behravan also said that IRIFF has requested that the match date against  South Korea on 11th October to be changed because it falls on Tasooa, a day before Ashoora. However, Behravan , admitted that chances of this happening and getting the nod from AFC and FIFA is quite remote. Such change in the carefully arranged and tight schedule of FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers will result in disruption for all the teams in the group and not only the two teams concerned. That raises the question of why ask in the first place if it is not a practical request?

On the league program. Behravan said that “after round 4 of the league, we will have to pause to allow Team Melli to prepare for the Qatar match. The team will conduct a training camp in Italy before playing against Qatar in Azadi.”

Queiroz “We will request to move Qatar match to Tabriz”

Team Melli head coach suggested that the first match against Qatar in the final rounds of FIFA World Cup 2018 should be moved to Tabriz’z Yadegar Imam  stadium because of friendlier atmosphere!

“I have asked Mr. Taj to move our match against Qatar to Tabriz because they treat us much better there.”  Queiroz said in a statement to the press after the conclusion of the Team Melli practise session in Azadi this afternoon.  Iran has always played major Team Melli games in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The last time a match was played in Tabriz was 16 years ago. A decision to move to Tabriz, would should surely antagonize Queiroz fans in Tehran. Queiroz did not mention how he figured out the friendlier atmosphere in Tabriz while he never experienced playing there with Team Melli.

Queiroz who is never far from controversy , hostility and a battles against his alleged enemies, also had some harsh words for the Manager of Azadi sport complex. He accused the person without naming him of being an enemy of Team Melli  and treating his squad with contempt.! 

It is believed that this idea of moving to Tabriz is more directed to the alleged bad treatment of the stadium  management rather than the fans sentiments.

Queiroz said that he will be taking 24 players to Macedonia for the friendly international in Skopje. The final list has not been produced yet pending health report and injury condition on couple of the players.

Queiroz also said that he will present a comprehensive report on the new Team Melli kit to Mehdi Taj , the head of IRIFF , however he declined to disclose any details. Team Melli has just changed its kit to a little known Italian kit supplier.

When confronted by a journalist about his broad and repetitive accusations, a defiant Queiroz admitted that but said “I know that I have been repeating the same things over and over again for a few years now, but as long as these people (…) are there and acting hostile , I will talk. No body can stop me from talking against them and exposing them!”

It is clear that no one seems to dare to stop the Portuguese from trash talking , and it is also clear that many are tired of his rhetorics, however , what really matters is how he will lead his team in the World Cup qualifiers. The competition is tough but Iran is well capable of making the trip to Russia if the Portuguese plays his cards right and not come up with the excuses such as Qatar and China are rich and investing!