Hamadan

 The Head of Iranian football Federation , Ali Kaffashian has bemoaned the criticism and questioning targeted at his federation’s achievement in the aftermath of winning this year’s AFC Asian Federation of the year 2012.

Iran Football Federation was surprising selected by the Asian Football Confederation as AFC MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR, despite Iranian teams at all levels having one of the poorest results in many years and hardly winning any trophies or titles. Iran also lost its futsal title to Japan is a sport that it has dominated since its onset in Asia.

Kaffashian stated that this honor belongs to all the administrators of the IRIFF and not just a single individual and hence he believes that this collective effort represents recognition by AFC for the fine work that his federation has achieved. However, the beleaguered head of IFF thinks that there are groups in Iran who are questioning this achievement and trying to undermine the IRIFF efforts in developing football in Iran. He previously also accused those who are questioning the award of this title as people questiong the Country and its leadership !

Kaffashian, who was attending a meeting of the general assembly of the Hamadan Province football committee, did not name those are alleged to be undermining his federation.  However, his target is clearly the TV Show “Navad”, which ran a poll asking the viewers to name the most astounding event of the football season in Iran. The absolutely majority elected the option of IRIFF winning the AFC MEMBER ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR. The influential “Navad” programs runs a SMS poll in every program in which millions participate and it is one of the more popular part of the show.

“Navad” is a weekly IRIB football program hosted by Adel Ferdowsipour and is considered as the most popular TV show in Iran. The show has raised several controversies throughout the years however, it is still considered as an important and influential tribune for all football personalities to air their grievances. The host , Ferdowsipour , is known as a bold character who does not shy away from criticizing the authorities and the federation for their shortfalls.