The former head of the FFIRI, severely criticized the Ministry of Sports and the managers of Iranian clubs, in an unprecedented verbal salvo in the aftermath of AFC saga with the Iranian clubs hosting of home games.
Mohammad Dadkan said: “Our meeting with the AFC did not accomplish anything whatsoever for us, yet these people claim victory!! what victory when the AFC does not even give you an inch?”
Dadkan one of the few remaining outspoken individuals who have criticized the football establishment for their incompetence and corruption many times pointed fingers at the managers of Iranian clubs and the Deputy Minister of Sports for their failure to protect Iranian football interests in their visit to Malaysia to meet AFC.
He told Radio Tehran in an interview on Friday: “The two biggest threats to any civilization are – lies and incompetent managers/leaders. You see, in our society, we seem to be accustomed to lies & fabrications of facts rather than demanding the truth. We have become habitual to the official “don’t rock the boat” policy which is a sure way of destroying the nation”
He continued “Our executives came out and hyped the nation two days ago about national honor and prestige but today, we found out that AFC has stood by its ruling, yet these people (FFIRI & the Ministry of Sport) come and tell the Iranian fans we have won against AFC !!”
“what do these officials think the people of this country are? Your meeting with the Secretary-General of the AFC has been nothing but a non-event. I myself am still a member of the AFC and am able to view the report of the meeting.”
The former head of the Iranian Football Federation emphasized:” They had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the AFC. What can the Secretary-General do for you? The Iranian delegation that traveled to Malaysia, do not even know the duties and authorities of the Secretary-General ?”
“Secretary-General can’t decide on the subject of hosting, it is not within his authority. All he can do in this regard is to note down your requests and pass it to the top AFC officials and the competition committee. What have you won? Your games are moved outside of Iran and that decision stands. The Ministry of Sports also had its own victory claims too. What victory have you achieved?”
“The club managers meeting with the AFC has not made any difference for us” Dadkan added. “Allow decent and competent people to talk. The society would decay to corruption when those dishonest ones have the upper hand and it is on the rise, while its good people are silenced. Let the experts speak“
“The Asian Confederation has taken this decision, based on our own statements and information coming out of Iran. You should be accountable for this NOT the AFC” he said.
In his criticism of the Minister of Sports who had previously pressurized the Football Federation to suspend the league for seven days claiming the situation was not safe to play football in our country and that the league games must be suspended., according to Dadkan.
“AFC officials hear about such statements and it alarms them when the source is government Minister. You declared insecurity in Iran for demanding the league suspension. You have to answer to the fans and clubs, not the AFC. Do not cover things in secrecy. Let all the people hear the words the Minister uttered on this subject. Who said that we are not safe and who demanded the postponement of Persepolis and Tractorsazi game.?” Dadkan added
“You said you’re not going to take part in the AFC Champions League but the fact is that you’re going.”
“If you are not going to participate in the champions league, Well, that’s fine but why are you bringing up national honors and dignity, if you are not able to protect it? “
The former head of the football federation also criticized the National Olympic Committee, saying: “When our champions and heroes are valued by outsiders and other nations and given asylum, all that our committee officials can say is ‘let them go away; they are just like the rest of them.’ Is that what our champion is worth to the Olympic Committee? They are national heroes that we revere and adore that we have lost, not an ordinary person.”
“Not only that, to cover their humiliation and incompetence they demand from others to speak out against those champions who seek asylum in other countries. I say this based on the documents I have seen. They are shaming our athlete’s class to say that these champion athletes were lying and have sold their homeland….”
“We had 2 major doping cases and more than 5 asylum seekers who left Iran this year. All that these sports officials can come up with is that these athletes are aliens and let them leave as if the country is yours only. Everybody can go out of Iran and we will stay only?”