Ali Kaffashian has upped the ante when he ordered the release of Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Sardar Azmoun to the Omid team in defiance to the adamant and stubborn Carlos Queiroz .

The team Melli coach declared that he has the priority and contractually the FFIRI are bound to respond to his wishes in player’s selection. He has rejected the pleas made by Kashani and Khakpour who requested that the two European based players to be available for the Omid team.  After a few days of high tension between Queiroz on one side and the rest of the FFIRI on the other, Queiroz has even threatened to leave his job if the two players are taken away from him.

 Kaffashian, who has already assured the nation and the Omid Team management a few days earlier that the two star players will be available for Team Melli, was not amused by Queiroz strong public outcry and his threats. He considered Queiroz’s threats as unprofessional and conduct unbecoming of a person in his class. He invited Queiroz to be calm and refrain from public statements that will only hurt the organization. Kaffashian also advised Queiroz to respect the FFIRI plans and the commands of his superiors.

After visiting Omid Team training session today (Thursday) Kaffashian wasted no time telling the reporters that Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh are important players for the Omid Team and will be soon joining the squad preparing for the round robin tournament in Azadi in a few days’ time.

“Our priority is Omid Team. We need to prepare well in the upcoming qualifying round and then we have a 9 months break before the finals qualifying rounds in Qatar.” Kaffashian stated. He also thought that after the management failures of the last Olympics campaign which ended in failure to qualify for the London 2012 games, in Kashani, the FFITRI have found the most experienced manager to take things forward. Kaffashian also had a few words of praise for the knowledge and skills of coach, Khakpour.

Kaffashian, as such , has called Queiroz’s bluff.

The Portuguese head coach, forever at odds and in dispute with his colleagues the organization and a whole lot of other people out of it, in what looks like a show of power, will be in a quandary. He has already made his strong points clear on where he stands with the two players. “They are Team Melli players and will be with us in the European tour. I have made myself very clear on that issue and do not wish to repeat it.” Queiroz said yesterday. He has also defied his superiors and claimed that the clause of the employment contract gives him the full rights to player’s selection and any interference by anyone in his job would mean that the contract is void.

Very strong words Indeed and defiant stand by Queiroz. It seems that we have not seen the end of this tale yet.