Tag: Sajjadi

Why is the match tomorrow in Azadi closed to the fans?

If you have been following the events of Iran’s football lately, you must have heard the good news of Azadi being opened for a limited percentage of its capacity for fans under the strict protocols. The requirement of AFC includes 2 shots of COVID19 vaccinations amongst a list of other requirements. The opening of the Azadi gate was given by  FFIRI President Aziz Khadem and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sajjadi.

48 hours before the match, there was a U-turn as FFIRI announced that Azadi will not be open to the fans after all. The football federation did not specifically mention the reason for the change of heart but leaks from FFIRI headquarters insinuated that due to some administrative difficulties, the FFIRI is not in full compliance and therefore no fans can be allowed to enter the stadium for the match against Korea Rep which has to be conducted behind closed doors.

in a matter of minutes, accusations of incompetence, lying, and downright ineptitude were thrown at the football federation in social media plus some semi-official media outlets leading the masses to believe that the failure to adhere to the AFC health protocol is the direct responsibility of the federation with their late application for authorization being one of the main reasons.

 Somehow, this account of administrative failure did not make sense. Many sources, including the FFIRI itself, have declared that the application was sent ahead of time, so there was no question of delay. Like always in Iran, one has to dig quite deep to get to the truth and this one is no exception.

ISNA sport corrospondance said

“While Team Melli fans were rejoicing and preparing to buy tickets to enter Azadi Stadium and celebrate the end of the two-year absence from the stadium, the Football Federation, after two months of storytelling, was finally unable to exercise its full right of hosting, and now Team Melli will be deprived of the support of the fans in one of the major Asian classic encounters.”

“It seems that mismanagement and lack of planning have taken root in Iranian football and this football is not going to breathe new life by changing its management. In the absence of infrastructure and financial resources, the fans are the only important and reliable assets of Iranian football. Thanks to the shortcomings and empty promises of the managers of the Football Federation, Team Melli will be deprived of this valuable capital in the match against South Korea. In the World Cup qualifiers, Iran is only host on paper.”

There is no argument about the incompetence of the federations managers, as the ISNA reporter rightly stated, but after some in-depth inquiry and insiders info, this time it seems that the federation was not that incompetent to be unable to get the process right for a straight forward authorization application from AFC. It is not rocket science after all as even FFIRI can complete it!.

So, what is the real reason for preventing the fans?

There are several theories but the one that is closet to reality in our opinion is the FIFA pressure on Iran to allow women entry into the stadium.

It was only in June that FIFA applied pressure to ensure that Iran allows female fans and expected the authorities to comply, or else. Under Rouhani women were allowed for a couple of matches, but now with Ebrahim Raisi in power, a hardline cleric who was previously head of the country’s judiciary, and has ultra-conservative political views the situation has changed, to the worst. Images of Iranian females waving flogs, taking selfies, wearing lipsticks, or cheering their national team, do not fit the bill. It could also be due to pressure from his hardliner peers’ which has forced the authorities from rescinding the agreement or the promise given to FIFA.

Allowing women in stadiums in Iran in 2019 for the first time since the revolution. was a personal triumph for the Chief of FIFA after a strong reminder from the World Football governing body that Iran would face expulsion from the World Cup if they do not follow the FIFA rules. “Fifa’s stance on the access of women to the stadiums in Iran has been firm and clear: women have to be allowed into football stadiums in Iran. For all football matches,” Fifa had said in a statement at the time.

So, Covid is one great convenient and timely excuse for the authorities to dodge the issue and close the great Azadi for everyone.  Technically speaking, Iran has not broken FIFA rules on women in stadiums.

It can be easily said that Iran has outfoxed FIFA, AFC, Infantino, and everyone else by this simple step. Iran cannot be sanctioned because this step does not target women only but everybody.

After all, the west has experienced firsthand the cunning and skills of the Iranian while negotiating the JCPOA. The Iranians managed to settle everything and agree on terms in 2015 only for one not-so-smart Donald Trump, a shallow person, an inexperienced politician,  to tear it off thinking that he can outsmart the Iranians by quitting the pact and exerting more pressure demanding more strict terms.

History says Iranians did not budge and did not accept the blackmail while it witnessed Trump’s failure. The businessman President of the USA could not outdo the Iranians and it seems like FIFA, a much less of an adversary to the Americans, will see the same fate. After all, they are dealing with carpet merchants with a tradition dating thousands of years.

Sajjadi “We will pursue Queiroz, if evidence is presented!”

Deputy Minister of Youth Sports said “if evidence is presented against Carlos Queiroz violating our values, we will deal with him as we did with others!”

The veiled threat to the Portuguese coach came in the aftermath of the public prosecution of Zlatko Kranjcar, in which the ministry of youth & Sport has accused the Croat coach of consuming alcohol in players’ dressing room!

Nassrollah Sajjadi, like his boss Goudarzi , who has not made any great attempts to conceal his contempt towards football , starting from Kaffashian and his administration to the footballers and coaches in club and Team Melli, has once again wielded the sword of threat. Not only this ministry has said little to praise anyone related to football, it has consistently been hostile and hardly screened their disapproval of Carlos Queirroz and Zlatko Kranjcar.

Sepahan CEO Merhrzad Khalilian with Zlatko Krajncar

The Ministry of Youth & Sports has been widely criticized and ridiculed for their narrow-minded and immoral way they dealt with Kranjcar in which the most basic of human rights has been disregarded by a Ministry. One of the sharpest reaction was that of the Sepahan CEO Mehrzad Khalilian who called the accusation that Kranjcar consumed alcohol in his team’s dressing room as fabricated , fraudulent and uncivilized. Even the government supporting media has been vocal in their criticism of a Ministry that has installed itself as the judge, the jury and executioner of morality cases thereby over-stepping its authority that is the function and responsibility of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic.

After that episode with Kranjcar, while being reminded about the cultural differences of foreign coaches , the Ministry to be seen as applying their own version of law on everyone, now is in pursuit of Carlos Queiroz for the same reasons as Kranjcar!

As if the never ending problems with Team Melli ahead of the Asian Cup are not enough, now Queiroz has to deal with this side issue and this lot!

Queiroz expresses deep concerns.

Carlos Queiroz stated that he will maintain silence against the allegations by the Under-secretary of The Ministry of Youth and Sport in which Sajjadi accused Team Melli coach of creating a commotion and dramatizing. In a brief statement to the press, Queiroz said “For me , it is difficult to fight on two fronts. One front is the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain and the other front is the domestic and internal elements that I have to fire fight.” according to Mehr news agency sport reporter.

“UAE released 10 military service players for their team.”

Queiroz spoke to reporters on Thursday and touched on several subject of concern. Commenting on the players caught in the military service dilemma, the Portuguese coach was concerned about the unavailability of key players. “Unfortunately, our situation is not good with the players in Military service. The UAE , one of our main rivals, has 10 players on Military Service. However, the authorities there realize the important mission of these footballers in Asian Cup and were given exemption to allow them to continue with the national team. No such favors for Iranian players on a similar mission.”

“In a question related to Esteghlal club and the allegation by the coach and managers of the club that Esteghlal players have been drained in Team Melli and their performance has suffered in the league with the team , Queiroz refuted  such allegations . “Why are you asking me about Esteghlal? I am in no position to take about such subject. Like the last four years that I have been here, I refuse to comment or interfere in clubs affairs. Their internal problems have got nothing to do with me. I will only comment about players when they are in active duty with Team Melli.”

 Training Camp Lisbon

“I will maintain silence.”

On Sajjadi’s comments, Queiroz claimed that he has not read or heard what Sajjadi has said about him. He went on a pip talk about pilots and surgeons responsibilities in his rationalization of doing a proper job of his. “I have not read Sajjadi’s comments but in life there are three methods to deal with such events. Smile, cry or maintain silence, I choose the last option.  

“We did not have money to pay for the airfare and hotel in Riyadh”

Asked about the recent Gulf Cup held in Riyadh in which all of Team Melli opponents were competing and an ideal opportunity for a close look at his opponents, Queiroz said “We did not have the money for the air fare and hotel, so we missed such a big opportunity to analyze those teams. Anyway, we have no choice but to focus on our own preparations now.

“I have to mention to you a fact that is giving me a headache. Some people think that I am preparing a team in my own backyard for a local competition. They think that Kaffashian and Queiroz are going on a party , they are forgetting that we have the responsibility of 70 million Iranians on our shoulders “

“Look at what our competitors have achieved.”

“Look at what the competitors in the same group have achieved so far and how they prepared their teams. How many training camps they have conducted and how many matches they played. Then compare it to ours. Uzbekistan has sent us an open invitation for a friendly match in Dubai until 12th December but due to many reasons, we declined their invitation. Qatar has neutralized 7 new players. I have to tell you that this is not a stroll in the park. We are supposed to play in the Asian Cup.”

The beleaguered Team Melli coach said “all Iranians have confidence in this team and put a lot of hope in it. if I was indifferent to the national team I would not have involved myself in program by entering this game. My plan is for the best representation of and preparation for the Asian Cup.   We want to go to Australia and achieve a result but only played two friendly preparations games, South Korea and Palestine. What are we talking about here!”.

 “We have oppositions within our own household”

“there was a great opportunity for us to improve our standard in the national team, on the other hand there are  those who want to take a stand against the Iranian national team. Some of these peoples have a name, the name of Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE. But some people present within the household. I do not know what they aim at. Let the national team players work in perfect environment with peace and tranquility prevailing in order to meet the demands of our fans and people.

Carlos-Queiroz-Iran-Argentina-AP_LNCIMA20140622_0063_3

 Doom and Gloom forecast.

There is no doubt that Queiroz has valid points when it comes to dealing with a federation that is always claiming about lack of money resulting is very poor preparation for the national team. There is very little doubt that any Team Melli coach working for the FFIRI under these circumstances is facing a demanding and stressful challenge. There is also not much doubt that there are many critics of the National Team coach, but that is no different to any country in the rest of the world and by this time Queiroz should very well be aware of it.

The buck stops here, however.

  Carlos Queiroz knew very well what he is against when he renewed his contract at an extensive paycheck, which is incidentally one of the reasons that the FFIRI is unable to meet its other demands that Queiroz is complaining about.

After the World Cup , Queiroz tore the Iranian federations and government officials apart with his claims and allegations of non-cooperation , lack of support lack of effective management and so on. He declared that he is not going back to Iran and the news was carried by all major news and sport agencies.

Yet, Carlos Queiroz , by hook or crock turned up in Tehran  after a substantial and damaging delay in signing , despite all his ill-talk about the football system in Iran !

To make the matters worse, both Queiroz and Kaffashian have publically declared that Team Melli’s priority is not the AFC Asian Cup 2015 but qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2018! That statement in itself, showed how far Carlos Queiroz is detached from the Iranian fans sentiments and aspirations.

Now by a miracle, the AFC Asian Cup is suddenly a priority and Queiroz is preaching the masses about its importance to the Iranian fans!

A further strange statement by Queiroz highlights the Portuguese coach difficulty in facing an acute situation.  Claiming that players’ problems at clubs are not his problems is highly unprofessional statement that has no place in modern human psychology of leadership. A player cannot switch from being horrible in a club one day to perfect with the national team the next. If he has a problem with the club, then it is a high possibility that he will carry that problem with him to Team Melli. It is a basic knowledge and understanding of human behavior. Queiroz should start caring.

It is quite easy to feel sympathetic to Queiroz plights as the situation in Iran’s football is not exactly ideal for preparing a title challenging team in the continent’s premiere competition. On the other hand, it is really difficult to vindicate him and absolve him from any responsibility either. Carlos Queiroz is accountable, morally and legally for his work regardless to all those adversities and hardships that he is complaining about.

By repeating these grievances, he is easily falling prey to Sajjadi’s allegation in which Queiroz feeling can be interpreted as “Crocodile’s tears.”