Persian Gulf Football league commission has announced today that Hossein Mahini of Persepolis and Ali Hamoudi of Sepahan are suspended from football activities in the league as the result of the finding by the appropriate authorities confirmed that the players’ Military Service Release Certificates are void and improperly issued based on false data.

Until such time these two players sort their status, they cannot play for their clubs in the league or any official competitions.

Hamoudi and Mahini are amongst a long list of footballers that have been discovered to be carrying Military service release certificates issued upon provision of false information to the authorities. The investigation has been going on for several months now and the verdict is yet another blow for the already tarnished image of Iran’s football.

 In another development related to the same issue, it is rumored that Arash Afshin is amongst 4 players who are taken into custody in Ahvaz, Khuzestan in relation with falsifying official government documents for the purpose of defrauding the public and the government. There was no confirmation from the clubs or other official sources.

Bakhtiyar Rahmani is another player who is also mentioned in this list; He is currently injured but faces the same castigation as the rest of the players who are found to be guilty of fraud.

Hossein Mahini , Bakhtiyar Rahmani , Ali Hamoudi and Arash Afshin are all current or former Team Melli players.