A sudden power failure on the northeast side of Azadi Stadium caused the Iran-UAE World Cup qualifier to be temporarily halted, presenting an embarrassing scene for Iranian football on the international stage.
According to a Mehr reporter, the match between the national teams of Iran and the UAE kicked off at 19:30 on Thursday, March 20, 1403 (Persian calendar) at Azadi Stadium. However, the game was not without its controversies and notable moments:
- Mixed Reception for Beiranvand: When the Iranian players entered the stadium, most received warm cheers from the crowd. However, goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand—who transferred from Persepolis to Tractor at the start of the Iranian Premier League season—was met with hostile chants from sections of the spectators. The keeper has been suffering verbal abuse from the beginning of the season. This unfortunate condition was not helped by Beiranvand’s own rhetoric’s.
- Paulo Bento’s Active Presence: UAE head coach Paulo Bento displayed great enthusiasm from the sidelines, actively leading and encouraging his players from the very beginning of the match.
- Stadium Lights Malfunction: In the 10th minute, the projectors on the northeast side of the stadium suddenly turned off, forcing the match to be paused.
- Extended Break and Players Sent to Locker Rooms: After an initial 15-minute stoppage, the referee instructed both teams to return to their locker rooms while officials worked to resolve the lighting issue. The game eventually resumed after an 18-minute delay.
- Players’ Reactions: While waiting for the match to restart, players from both teams attempted to stay warm by keeping their legs active on the field. Meanwhile, the UAE goalkeeper engaged in a discussion with the referee, urging him to restart the game as soon as possible, but his request was met with resistance.
This unexpected interruption during a crucial World Cup qualifier raises serious concerns about Azadi Stadium’s infrastructure, casting a shadow over Iranian football’s global image.
This failure occurred after a long period of maintenance conducted on the old and frailing stadium built in 1973 for the Asian Games 1974. It once again exposed the sports authorities failure and management of Iran’s football infrastructure which has fallen way behind the neighboring countries. Such failures are a source of embarrassment for all concerned. Iran has never staged any major sports events, particularly football, since the revolution! At this rate, it is doubtful that this generation will ever witness such an event.