Tag: Ministry of Youth and Sports

Minister of Sports in critical condition following the helicopter crash.

A helicopter carrying the minister of sports on Thursday evening, crashed while landing in the sports complex of Baft city, in Kerman province. There were multiple injuries and one death due to the crash.

According to ISNA, the head of the Kerman Emergency Services Directorate said that Hamid Sajjadi, the sports minister suffered a cerebral hemorrhage as a result of the helicopter crash, and the work of transferring him from the hospital to the provincial medical centers is underway. Also, Ismail Ahmadi, the director general of the sports minister’s office, was one of the victims of the helicopter accident carrying the sports minister, who died in this accident. His body will be flown to Tehran.

According to eyewitnesses at the scene of the crash, the helicopter lost control and auto-rotated near the ground while attempting to land. The governor of Kerman said: “The helicopter carrying the Minister of Sports had twelve passengers who were injured while landing in Baft Stadium, but the condition of the passengers is good. The helicopter landed once but then bounced off the ground and lifted into the air but shortly after it came crashing down to the ground. The cause of the accident, which the observers attributed to pilot error and heavy landing is under official investigation .

The Iranian Red Crescent has announced that 16 people were injured in this incident which means that at least four people on the ground have also been injured.

In the latest news update, it is announced that Sajjadi’s condition is critical.

Iranian handicapped legionnaires missing in Turkey.

in the aftermath of the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria where the death toll tops 7,100 as more victims are found, three Iranian footballers playing professionally in Turkey’s Malatyaspor Kulübü have not heard of since the massive quake hit southeastern Turkey.

The three athletes are handicapped and represent Iran at international levels.

 Yeni Malatyaspor Kulübü is a Turkish professional football club based in Malatya, Turkey. The club plays in the TFF First League, which is the second tier of football in the country.

The Minister of Sports and Youth demanded an immediate follow-up on the matter. Seyed Hamid Sajjadi told the Sports Federation of Veterans and the Disabled and the office Foreign relations office, the Ministry of Sports and Youth has a mission to follow up on the situation of these athletes through the available channels with urgency. According to this report, Mohammad Reza Mirahmadi, Mehdi Saeedavi, and Hamed Matroudi are three Iranian footballers, who have not been heard from since the tragic earthquake in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Shervin Esbaghian, the head of the Veteran and Handicapped Sports Federation (Special Needs federation)  said on the sidelines about the Iranian soccer legionnaires who are Handicapped ” there is no news about them since last night, as our international relations department has been in communication with the Turkish federation seeking news. They are also persistent and the city where these players were present has suffered major damage, despite our efforts, sadly there is no definite news about their condition. They informed us that their mobile phones are on and ringing, but no one is answering. I hope they have survived that ordeal and come back home soon. The federation will follow up and if we receive any news, we will inform you as soon as we have any news.”

Blatant interference by the Minister of Sports in deciding on Team Melli Head Coach!!!

The minister of Sports Hamid Sajjadi, stressing that the post of the head coach of the national team should be resolved sooner, announced an important meeting with the head of the football federation to determine the position of the national team bench.

Regarding the situation of Team Melli, he noted that “the uncertainty of the national team should end soon. Today, one of our meetings will be with Mirshad Majdi. They (FFIRI) have carried out studies and conducted inquiries. Today we are talking to each other and we are with the national team and we will help. We have received the necessary support from the government to provide any material and moral support to the technical decisions of the federation.”

Sajjadi continued “It is not advisable for the Ministry of Sports to interfere in any of the sports fields. Even in athletics, I don’t allow them to interfere in technical matters. We respect the technical point of view of the federations.”

In response to the question of whether Iranian coaches should be selected for Team Melli, the Minister of Sports said “During the past few days, there have been two schools of thought about the use of Iranian or foreign coaches, all of these are being analyzed, and a final decision taken by two committees of the FFIRI technical committee and the board of directors. The chairman will review these views and finally come today to make the final decision in our meeting”.

Sajjadi never explained why the appointment of Team Melli head coach must be decided with the presence of the government who always claims that they are not interfering in the FFIRI. The reality is that beyond any doubt much if not all major decisions in football in Iran are influenced by the government who are even not intelligent enough to disguise the fact.

This meeting announcement by Sajjadi is the biggest proof that the Ministry of Sporty is directly interfering with football, despite their repeated denials.

Fariba warns against the government influence in FFIRI election.

In an interview with Mehr, Behtash Fariba referred to the upcoming elections of the Football Federation FFIRI and said: “The members of the Football Federation Assembly should elect a person as president who is independent, competent and capable of instigating changes in the federation.”

The former Team Melli and Esteghlal player further noted: “The next president of the Iranian football federation will have many problems and must be able to overcome these problems.”

He added: “Assembly members must choose the right person for football. As a footballer, I ask those who are in fact our representatives in the Assembly to steer football in the right direction with a proper choice in order to progress and develop. Rest assured that a good outcome will be achieved if the government does not interfere in the elections.”

Fariba, who has also played for   Pas club, continued in an interview with Mehr news: “I do not believe that the Ministry of Sports will remain idle and not interfere in the elections, I wish it would not interfere. I wish the government would not influence the proceedings of the election and running of football affair, but it is wishful thinking. Despite their public stance that  they (the government) would remain neutral and would not interfere, do not believe it.“

The Iranian football veteran pointed out ” Be rest assured that the Ministry of Sports has its own agenda and preferred candidate(s) and all efforts will be made to get their own candidate to win the presidency of the federation. This is modus operandi of the ministry that has a solid track record of appointing chairmen and board members of Esteghlal and Persepolis in order to manage and control these two most popular clubs of the nation and beyond.  The chaos and poor management style of the appointees of the Ministry are vividly visible to all. Now, do you think that the Ministry of Sports will neglect to exert influence in a place like the Football Federation? highly unlikely, in my opinion”

Mohammad Ali Karimi , is one of the candidates and has the broad support of footballers. His nominated deputy is another Iranian legend, Mehdi Mahdavikia.

Mehdi Taj claims Wilmots was the Minister of Sport recommendation!

In a radio sports show yesterday, Mehdi Taj the former President of FFIRI, who is under severe scrutiny and possible criminal charges on the subject of the contract with Marc Wilmots, claimed that the Belgian Coach appointment to Team Melli was based on the recommendations given by the Ministry of Sport!

According to Mehr News Agency, the Ministry of Sports issued an official statement refuting the former FFIRI president.

 “about some issues raised in the radio interview, Mr. Mehdi Taj, former President of the Football Federation, The ministry finds it necessary to explain to the public the role of the Minister of Sports and Youth in regards to Mr. Wilmots or any coach. The Minister did not introduce (…) the coach to the Football Federation, as Mr. Taj claimed in an interview Friday night. The Minister only forwarded a letter originated from the “Cultural Association of Iran and the Netherlands” in which three veteran foreign coaches were identified and this referral has been submitted to the Football Federation for review. This is a common practice for some individuals, institutions, or organizations to make suggestions or referrals to the Ministry of Sports and Youth, which in turn we direct to the federation concern” The ministry spokesperson said in the statement.

To justify further, the Ministry spoke person added: “While anyone with the slightest familiarity with correspondence and administrative literature knows that the term “review” does not mean an order of action, but the final word on the matter and decision-making is left to that federation, which of course means choosing and concluding a contract with individuals team coaches. It is the full responsibility of the football federations, to complete the necessary steps and the Ministry of Sports and Youth has not interfered in the selection of coaches.”

There is no doubt that the Ministry on the behest of the government has been running the football federation. Although technically speaking, the spokesperson is correct, as the recommendation is not an order but if this recommendation comes from your sole financier and backer, like the case in Iran, then the recommendation consciously and knowingly becomes an order.

Many believe that Carlos Queiroz would have still been the coach of Team Melli if it wasn’t to the objections and interferences of this same Minister of Youth and Sports, Soltanifar.

Marc Wilmots appointment turned out to be a serious technical and administrative disaster for Team Melli and the football federation. After two consecutive relatively smooth qualifications to the FIFA World Cup under the guidance of Queiroz, Iran’s Team Melli under Wilmots is risking elimination this time.

“We conned FIFA” Former FFIRI President admits.

Ali Kaffashian, the former president of the Football Federation says he has lied to FIFA in defining the nature of this federation in the 2007 constitution.

It is one of the most direct and vivid confessions that the Iranian Government controls the Football Federation, in spite of the common knowledge that such governance means the suspension of the federation and sanctions against FFIRI.

According to Kaffashian, the nature of the Football Federation and the government’s oversight of this organization has always been a topic of debate in the country’s football circles, because if the federation is considered an independent non-governmental organization (NGO), the Ministry of Sports and government departments cannot impose or force regulations such as prohibiting government retirees from occupying a post in NGOs.

“A retired person should be able to hold any post in independent organizations and that includes private companies, but if an organization is defined as a “Public non-governmental entity”, the government enforces its authority upon it.

Blatter & Kaffashian

In response to a question of whether the federation is an “Independent NGO” or a “Non-Governmental Public Body”  Ali Kaffashian said, “When I joined football federation, I was retired from government services.  At the time it was explained to me that the federation is an independent organization or NGO and as a non-governmental body, I have no problem with the law that prohibits government retirees from working while receiving a pension.”

“After the change of Cabinet, the new minister of sport did not want me in FFIRI and said I was retired and should not be occupying this post. I reminded him that the federation is a non-governmental organization and that my retirement is irrelevant, but the honorable minister said that the federation is a “non-governmental public institution” and that government employment rules and regulations apply to you, so your retirement is a problem.”

Kaffashian emphasized that the nature of the federation should be written correctly in the amendment of the federation’s charter, adding: “I think we should include everything that we are in the new charter. Officials should mention that the federation is an ‘independent non-governmental organization’ If FIFA accepts that, then there is no problem, but if it does not, do not falsely tell FIFA that it is an independent, non-governmental organization while in fact, it is a government entity.”

“We have conned FIFA in the past,” Kafashian said, referring to the federation’s 2007 constitutional amendment. When the constitution was adopted by a six-member group of government and FIFA representatives, Mr. Kiomars Hashemi, a former member of the federation’s presidium, wrote in a preface of the constitution that it was an independent, non-governmental organization. This is not true and never was. We tricked FIFA to remove the sanction imposed on us after the 2006 World Cup and lied.”

He continued “We should not have lied. Now we must clearly say that we are a non-governmental public organization. If they do not accept, we should take the law to the parliament to change it so that future managers do not face any problems. Whenever we were moved, they hit us on the head with a stick that we are a public and non-governmental organization and should abide by the ministry”.

Security of Sport Ministry objected to Daei’s appointment !

Ali Daei has claimed that his nomination for Head Coach post of Team Melli had been rejected by the Ministry of Sports. He was disqualified by the orders of the Ministry’s security department.  “I don’t know what to say when a person like me is denied his right to be a candidate for Team Melli head coach by the security wing of the Sports Ministry !!”

Daei added, ” Of course, I personally know the reasons for this disqualification.”

The head of the Ministry of Youth and Sports’s Security Department denied any inquiries or comments about Ali Daei. The circumstances of Ali Daei’s presence in Iran’s national football team remain controversial, to say the least. From the front runner, Daei found himself disqualified according to ISNA. After Ali Daei announced in an interview with ISNA that the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and specifically the Ministry’s security wing, opposed his presence in Team Melli’s technical staff, the head of the concerned department of the Ministry dismissed the claims. Sameei, told ISNA, “There was no inquiry about Mr. Daei’s security clearance, nor did the security comment.”

The Security department of the Ministry is charged with watching Iranian Athletes activities specifically during their trips abroad and ensuring compliance with the regime policies and Islamic principles like praying and keeping away from undesired athletes from countries such as Israel. It also sanctions each candidate for leadership and membership of boards of all clubs and federations. The Security department has the final say on when and where important matches and sporting events are hosted.

All athletes need security clearance before representing Iran home or abroad. This practice started decades ago to prevent opposition and terrorist organizations such as MKO from infiltrating Iranian teams and squads.

“Soltanifar “National Teams expenses are entirely from the Ministry of Sports”

The Minister of Youth and Sports says all the expenses of the national teams, especially football (Team Melli), have been paid by the Ministry of Sports. He also announced that the new Team Melli head coach will be appointed soon, falling short of admitting that the Ministry is the decision-maker in such an appointment while declining to give specifics.

Masoud SoltaniFar told reporters in Kazeroon during his long day trip to Fars province: “Iran’s sixth FIFA World Cup appearance should be the main agenda of the Football Federation.”

In response to a question about the financial backing of Team Melli, the Minister said: “supporting and financing the national teams in all the expenses of the national teams, especially football, have been with the Ministry of Sport and there should be no concern by the stakeholders since we back the team.”

” We have a special budget for the Olympics, the support of the Ministry for the National Olympic Committee is comprehensive,” Soltanifar said

The Minister declined to name any candidates and despite the fact that a spokesman for his Ministry suggested that the new coach will most probably be a foreign coach, Soltanifar refused to specific.  Branko Ivankovic who was the front-runner for the post of Team Melli coach has just been appointed as the Head Coach of Oman after the Iranian side failed to settle his claims and back pays with Persepolis.

World Media in suspense for the Iran-Cambodia match, and it has little to do with game-plans!!

The Public Relations Manager of Ministry of Youth and Sports announced that 21 foreign media outlets from 21 countries have applied for media credentials to cover the match between Iran and Cambodia in Azadi Stadium on 10th October 2019.

The match will be observed by a FIFA delegation to ensure that women are allowed in the stadium as per FIFA regulations. According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, journalists, photographers and cameramen  from various networks and news agencies are seeking coverage of the Iran-Cambodia World Cup qualifiers,

Iranian female spectators are supposed to be allowed in the stadium for the match which will be subject to FIFA oversight.

It is clear that international media care less about the result of the match and more concerned with the case of Iranian women entry into football stadiums. Although the government and FFIRI have assured FIFA and confirmed that the authorities will have no objections in controlled entry and segrations of women, a recent statement by Iranian Attorney General has put a question mark on the whole affair.

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, Iran’s chief prosecutor, (Attorney General) spoke at a ceremony in Qom on the issue of women’s entry to the stadiums and criticized FIFA for forcing a country to allow women in the stadium. It is not clear if this person, Montazeri, has the authority to stop the implementation of the government decree.

However, the consequences of FIFA banning Iran and in the process, the elimination of the Team Melli from the World Cup will definitely be having serious conseqiuences in the country. Many fear mass riots and clashes which will be surely met by brute force from the security forces as always against any show of dissent or mass protests in Iran.

 

Concerns raised on Team Melli sponsorship deal.

A sub-committee of the Iranian parliament, investigating the financial dealings and expenditure of government-owned entities and also the subsidies that the government provided to the various sport federations, has unveiled yet another possible corruption case in football federation FFIRI.

The sub-committee of the Majlis , which like the Ministry of Youth and Sports , has been highly critical of the financial irregularities of the football federation and lack of transparency, is targeting the sponsorship deal awarded to a private sector organization for the sponsorship of Team Melli.

The sub-committee has been receiving a lot of complaints from people claiming that the rebates, giveaways and gifts that they were promised by the joining Team Melli support campaign backed by the sponsors have not been forthcoming.

The culprit is a mobile communication company in Iran that has a huge advertising campaign using Team Melli name. The company has alleged to have promised several gifts including CD’s , rebates on phone calls and other services for a mere 5000 toman to Team Melli fans club.

During the last general assembly of the FFIRI, there was very little mention of the sponsorship deal with the company in the financial report. The sub-committee stated that the top brass at the federation could not provide them with the details of the sponsorship contract and how much the federation is getting out of the deal with this particular sponsor.

The sub-committee believes that this company and football federation have created an atmosphere of mistrust and used the popularity of Team Melli to gain money unethically and amounting to an embezzlement.