Tehran
The Friday’s Tehran derby which ended in a goalless draw, a repeat result of the last 3 meetings between the two most popular teams in Iran, has enraged many football experts and fans. The millionaires of Tehran played a cautious match, tactically poor and devoid of any exciting football. The players performed poorly in the highly sensitive match which is regularly hyped by the media and all concerned to the regular disappointment of the fans who await an exciting or beautiful football.
There is no country in the world that can claim 100,000 attendances for a league match. Azadi and Tehran derby between Perspolis and Esteghlal is an exception. Not even the el classico or any of the famous English league derby matches can attract this type of figures. On the evidence of TV footage and many other observers, the attendance at Azadi stadium exceeded the officially announced 100,000, all treated to a mediocre and boring football.
The post-match reaction and denunciations by many experts and ex-players was far more exciting than the match itself. Farshad PEYOUS , ex-Team Melli and Perspolis striker with an immaculate scoring record in the eighties, commenting in the match said “We never claimed that we played a modern high class football in our days, but at least we gave the fans something to cheer about . This match we saw on Friday , was even worse than “Ali Asghari” football that some used to refer to our football. “ The term “Ali Asghari” is used in Iran for tactically poor , street style with route one method of playing.
“There was no proper passing game; players simply pushed the football away as of to get rid of responsibility. In the whole game, the fans saw only 2 or 3 serious attacking scene. These players’ motive was to avoid defeat at any cost. It is a real shame that most of the two team’s players are members of our Team Melli.”
The fear and concern over Team Melli form has prompted Amir Haj Rezaei , a football analyst and one of the highly qualified trainers in Iran to express his anger and dismay at the lethargic football experienced in Friday’s derby. ” It is a great insult for the 100,00 fans in the stadium and the million watching the match on Live TV to be exposed to this farce.” Haj Rezaei said in a live TV show.
“Time and again these loyal fans flock to the stadiums defying hardships to be met by a group of millionaires that have little interest to entertain their loyal fans but much interest in achieving their own personal goals. To think that Team Melli consists of the players of these two teams is even more depressing and adds of our misery and outlook for the World Cup participation.”
While many Esteghlal and Perspolis players admitted that they have played a poor game each coming up with his own justification and some even blaming the media for their poor showing , the most interesting quote must go to Mohsen BENGAR, Perspolis and Ex-Team Melli defender. “ If I was a fan watching this match on TV , I would have switched the channel or turn it off.”…Indeed.