Tag: AFC Champions League

19/01/2020

Middle East Tensions Hurting Asian Soccer Ambitions

Steve Price

The Asian Football Confederation has reportedly banned Iran from hosting international matches based on safety fears over the current tensions in the region. Iranian club sides have responded by planning to withdraw from the AFC Asian Champions League. The clubs have said Iran is “safe”, while Iranian media and fans have claimed that politics, rather than security, is behind the AFC’s decision.

Iran are one of the top nations in the Asian Champions League and has some of the best-supported clubs in Asia. Iranian clubs had a poor campaign last year, but the year before that, Persepolis reached the final of the competition. They, along with Esteghlal, Sepahan and Shahr Khodro, will withdraw from the competition should the AFC’s fixture ban not be reversed.

Iranian sides played their matches against Saudi Arabian sides on neutral territory last season, so the move by the AFC isn’t completely unprecedented. But playing any games on neutral territory is damaging to the competition’s reputation. When over 40,000 people turn up in Tehran to watch Estaghlal or Persepolis, it’s a much better advert for the Asian Champions League than when a thousand fans turn up in Doha to watch Estaglal’s ‘home’ match against Al-Hilal.

The absence of Iranian clubs in the competition would be similar to Italian clubs deciding to boycott the UEFA Champions League. Few other Asian countries can match Iran’s top clubs in terms of fans. The Asian Champions League is struggling to grow, with low attendance and regular scandals or other embarrassments, so having one of its most important members boycott the competition is the last thing the AFC needs.

But as well as damaging Asia’s main club competition, the current tensions could also damage the United Arab Emirates’ and Qatar’s attempts to bolster their sporting credentials.

The UAE and Qatar have benefited in the past from their relative stability compared to other countries in the region, often hosting ties that can’t be played at the home country’s stadium for security reasons. If Iran is banned from hosting international matches, then it is possible that Iran’s ‘home’ games would be played in the UAE or Qatar.

But it seems the current tensions in the Middle East have finally caught up with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, as other soccer teams are staying away.

The USA men’s soccer team canceled its camp in Doha earlier this month due to the “developing situation in the region”, holding it in Florida instead. And last week Manchester United scrapped plans for a training trip to the Middle East in February, while Arsenal have said they are assessing security measures before deciding whether to head to Dubai for warm weather training.

Qatar and the UAE have been popular destinations for these winter training camps in the past few seasons, with many of Europe’s top clubs heading there for the warm weather and high-quality facilities. Qatar’s FA says that “time and again, these teams return to AZF [Aspire Zone Foundation] to benefit from Qatar’s perfect outdoor training weather at this time of year.” This year, Bayern Munich, Ajax and PSV Eindhoven all used the Aspire facilities, apart from Ajax’s US international Sergino Dest who said he “didn’t feel comfortable” due to the tensions.

While showcase events like the Qatar 2022 World Cup or the Club World Cup might grab the headlines, these camps have been like a dripping tap, helping to slowly establish the two countries as reliable regional soccer hubs. With the teams come media, agents, sponsors and so forth, over time making the countries a good place for related businesses to set up offices, helping the local tourism sector, and boosting these countries’ soft power.

The Qatar 2022 World Cup and other showcase events are unlikely to be affected unless things really escalate in the region, but should the security situation in the region remain tense, top European clubs might decide to switch their future winter plans to Florida or to Spain and Portugal where many other clubs from around the world hold their winter training camps, putting a major dent in Qatar and the UAE’s aspirations to boost their global standing through sports.

08/06/2019

Zlatko Krancjar ” I left Iran because of sanctions”

The former head of the Iran Omid (U23) team believes the sanctions imposed on Iran were the reason for his departure from the team, something that has caused other Iranian teams to face difficulties.

The Croatian coach Zlatko Krancjar ended his partnership with Iran’s Omid team and is now back in his own country, according to ISNA. The coach who held several coaching posts in Iran including leading Persepolis and Sepahan in Iranian football league, in discussion about his departure from the Iran team said “I could not continue to work in Iran because of the sanctions. Everything is determined by money, and because of sanctions, Iran’s sport, especially football, is in suffering severely.”

“The administration of the national teams at all age group levels is dependent on the on the government and the state of which it is willing to support, so it is not possible to improve the situation,” he continued. “In any case, I have been in Iran for 6 years and I thoroughly enjoy that period and enjoyed Iran. In Sepahan, I was able to win two trophies. In the Omid team of Iran, I also got good results in the Olympic qualifiers were we qualified for the finals. I’d better rest now. Also notice that , Winfred Schaefer also left Iran. Branco Ivankovic , who has won three championships in a row and has been in the AFC Champions League final, is facing some financial problems.”

12/03/2018

Team Melli Hopeful: Morteza Tabrizi

Morteza Tabrizi, is one more serious contender for a Team Melli jersey come June 2018 when the whole world will be enjoying the FIFA World cup 2018
A late developer in football, Tabrizi only came into contention a couple of season ago. Tall and skillful, he has an Ali Daei like style. His heading ability and goals from headers are becoming a trademark.

Tabrizi, unlike his surname suggests, was actually born in Hamedan on January 6th, 1991. Played his early football in Talar Vahdat in his home town then Mes Kerman. His senior career started at Pas Hamedan where the tall forward stuttered and only managed to score a few (5 goals) in just short of 3 years. Despite that , he was actually called for the Iran U23 team.

The break for Tabrizi came when he was transferred to Zob Ahan in 2013. The central forward was given ample opportunities to prove his worth and more playing time. Tabrizi`s confidence grew and with it came the goals.
Tabrizi towering physique helped him in scoring freely and specifically beating his markers in the air. He eventually attracted Team Melli selectors attention and was called several times, however he has yet to make his debut.
This season is by far the best that the 27 years old Tabrizi has played in his career. The AFC Champions league seems to be his favorite.

The only doubt that exists in this potentially great match winner is his confidence in front if the goal. He seems to be wasteful at times and could have scored many goals than he actually has if had more assertiveness and determination qualities. His conversion rate could be much better. A good mentor would make Tabrizi a great forward for steam Mell i.

The competition up front for places is quite stiff. In fact the best players of thus current Team Kelli are all forwards. Tabrizi will have a tough time dislodging the others for a place in that plane which will take team Kelli to Moscow, however, he has exceptional heading ability that only Azmoun can match in the squad.

Senior career*

Years	Team	Apps	Goals
2010–2013	Pas Hamedan	35	5
2013–	Zob Ahan	133	37

	National teams
2012–2014	Iran U23	5	2

25/09/2017

Mehdi Taremi is suspended by FIFA.

Following a complaint by a Turkish Sporting Club, the World Football governing body (FIFA) ruled in favor of Süper Lig team Çaykur Rizespor and imposed a heavy penalty and fines against Persepolis and Mehdi Taremi.

Both Team Melli striker and his agent Golghi, have been penalized for illegally leaving the Turkish club and required to pay a fine of € 789,500. Both are also suspended from all football activities for a period of four months.

Persepolis is also banned from any transfer activities for two windows of winter and summer transfers and will not be able to attract new players until the winter of 2018.

Persepolis is facing the most challenging of period of the club history as they have set camp in Dubai in preparation for the AFC Champ[ions League semi final on against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Taremi , the leading scorer for the club will not be available.

With the demand by Persepolis, Taremi’s change of heart as well as Hossein Hedayati’s encouragement , Taremi returned from Turkey to Iran despite signing an official contract to play for the Turkish club and as a result , he is faced with unprecedented penalty.

Petiro Espoor announced in March of 2016 that he would sue Taromi, but Persepolis did not take the Turkish club’s threat seriously and announced that they can easily deal with the matter. Persepolis always maintained that Mehdi Taremi is a Persepolis player who has been ill-advised!

The Iranian media have repeatedly warned of the consequences of Taremi’s law abuses. Persepolis has had many months to negotiate peacefully with the Turkish side, but lack of understanding of law, arrogance and simply poor management skills which the club is famous for, has turned out to be a very expensive affair.

Even after the FIFA decree, Ali Akbar Taheri, the CEO of Persepolis, announced that if there is no penalty against the club accept the suspension of Taremi !

FIFA is very strict in about players’ commitment and obligations to their clubs and vice versa. Iranian clubs are notorious for breaking rules as both Persepolis and Esteghlal have been found guilty of several rules breaking. Taremi has been fine for not respecting the terms of the contract and leaving the club without notice and without obtaining a clearance from his employer , Çaykur Rizespor.

Persepolis club has the opportunity to appeal to the High Court of Sports CAS , but if the verdict is reaffirmed, then there is an added heavy costs of the trial proceeding that should be paid.

Çaykur Rizespor’s complaint follows another Persepolis’ involvement in the case of former coach Manuel José. Than fans are worried about the consequences of that case which might be even a bigger penalty against Persepolis.

One source inside the FFIRI mentioned that “Despite the denial by Persepolis, the letter of suspension has reached the Football Federation and on Saturday , a session is scheduled to be held in the federation to examine the issue.”

Following the news of Taremi’s suspension, the club coach Branko Ivankovic said that he is extremely concerned with lack of professionalism displayed by the player and ill-advise that Taremi had received following his departure from Persepolis to Turkey and the quick U-Turn. The Croat coach , however, was defiant and insisted that despite his top scorer absence , he is determined to take the team to its first ever AFC champions League Final.