Team Melli midfielder, Abolghasim Dehnavi has been suspended from all football activities, including participation in Team Melli training and matches, until further notice. The move was announced today by IRIFF disciplinary committee after receiving a written complaint from Perspolis club against the player.

In its letter to the federation, Pesrpolis claims that Dehnavi, who was Tractorsazi player last season and became a free agent at the end of the season, has signed an “Internal agreement” with Perspolis, however after this binding contract, Dehnavi negotiated with Sepahan Esfahan and singed yet another contract with the Esfahani club to be a player with them next season!

Esmaeil Hassanzadeh, a spokesman for the IRIFF disciplinary committee announced that the grievance and the evidence provided to the committee by Perspolis club is authentic and admissible, however , a full verdict cannot be reached without listening to the other party (the player). Based on the documents provided, the IFF announces the full suspension of Dehnavi from all football related activities until the hearing date which is set on 22nd June 2013.

Perspolis is claiming damages as a result of Dehnavi’s act.

It has become a common practice for players to sign for several clubs in what is known to be an “Internal agreement”. The full extent and authenticity of such contract is still a grey area. While some sources refer to these as verbal semiofficial agreement similar to an MOU (memorandum of understanding) other sources call it an official and binding contract. These problems occur on monotonous and regular basis, but neither the federation nor the courts in Iran are willing to clear the situation as what is referred to “Internal agreement” is still in the grey area of the law.