Tag: Iraq

Iran rules supreme at the top of FIFA Asian Ranking

Team Melli continued to rule the FIFA Asian Ranking for the month of May 2017.

Korea Rep, Japan and Australia follow Iran in the ranking

 

WORLD RANK

Rank Team Points
26 NIRNorthern Ireland 823
26 IRLRepublic of Ireland 823
28 IRNIran 820
29 BIHBosnia and Herzegovina 815
30 SENSenegal 805

 

 Asian Rank World Rank Team Previous Points
 1 28 IRNIran 820
 2 43 KORKorea Republic 700
 3 44 JPNJapan 685
 4 50 AUSAustralia 661
 5 52 KSASaudi Arabia 646
 6 60 UZBUzbekistan 586
 7 75 UAEUnited Arab Emirates 453
 8 80 SYRSyria 426
 9 81 CHNChina PR 425
 10 89 QATQatar 369
 11 100 INDIndia 331
 12 109 JORJordan 311
 13 115 OMAOman 290
 14 116 PRKKorea DPR 289
 15 120 IRQIraq 278

The dirty beautiful game of football.

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[column size=”1/2″] Once again and with tedious regularity, stories of corruption in World Football crops up. The most popular sport in the world and by far the top money generator has been polluted for a long time. FIFA, football’s world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption. Icons of football such as Micheal Platini , Franz Beckenbauer, Joseph Blatter and a host of other influential football personalities have been indicted, suspended or jailed as a result.

It is foolish to think that after all these events and exposures; corruption in football has vanished or even subsided. There is far too much at stake, too much of interest, far too much money that fools like us spend to watch our cherished game. The criminal minds and Mafia’s of this world are always on the lookout for the source of money. What’s better than that rich and beautiful game of football.

This week was the FIFA day with most countries playing for a place in the FIFA World Cup 2018, in itself a dubious and controversial venue full of alleged corrupt practices. For most countries, the prestige of qualifying to the finals is prized enough to do everything possible, legally and honorably, but for some even going beyond ethics and letter of the law to ensure the that rich payout.

Mission possible

Saudi Arabia, a country that has invented the project of humongous expenditure on football using its petrodollars in the 70’s, has not qualified for the World Cup since 2006. It is a matter of honor for them because any success in football is attributed to the efforts of the ruling clan. Failure reflects badly on them, especially when things are not politically comfortable for them on the diplomatic scene. The despot regime is desperate for positive PR where it has little to show in the past few years with accusations of harboring Islamist extremist and involvement in 9/11.

The World Cup 2018 campaign was not going very well for the Saudis in the opener match at home against the resolute Thai team. It was heading for a goal-less draw. But by the grace of God , and a little compassion from the Chinese referee, the simplest of contact between a Thai defender and Saudi forward was called a penalty in the 84th minute. The Saudi’s scored, the Thai were furious and heartbroken feeling betrayed.  Questionable call is quite simply a gross understatement.

Five days later the story repeated itself with the Saudi’s against Iraq in Malaysia this time. Iraq was leading by a goal when Qatari referee called two consecutive penalties in 81st & 88th minutes to ensure all 3 points goes in the rich Saudi’s bag.

 

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[column size=”1/2″] The Saudi haul

2 matches, 6 points, 3 penalty goals. Is it a coincidences?.

 

Not if you dig deep enough into the practices  of the highly influential Saudis , who have handpicked the current President of AFC Shaikh Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain, a tiny island state that the Saudi dominate financially and politically.

AFC , time and again , has been influenced by the Saudi pressure and there is no doubt about that.

Nomination of Australian referee Williams is yet another cause of debate which AFC could have very easily avoided. Creating psychological pressure on Iran is one way that the Saudis, who are sworn enemy of Iran, will show its influence against its hated neighbor. Out of the hundreds of referees, they had to choose the one that the Iranian despise and have issue with. Even if there is no bad intent by the AFC, the IQ of the administrators in the Kuala Lumpur AFC HQ should be much higher than to create such controversy.

AFC of course is famous for the Bin Hammam affair whose ill repute made world headlines.

Of course, Asia , Africa  and Latin America are not the only culprits. The whistle clean Europeans are also as shady, however, they do seem to be doing it diligently , cunningly and artfully. TV deals are perhaps this biggest basis of corruption and a highly kept secret deals with no transparency on why certain broadcasters win, not necessarily on the basis of highest bids.

Europe does it better

But the corruption is not limited in the corridors of power in Europe. A few days ago a Slovakian defender has made a startling claim that England’s World Cup qualifier against his country was fixed.  England scored in the 96th minute two minutes over the top of added time declared by the referee. It is fair to say that the Slovak Keeper was being treated in that added time.

Whether we like it or not, corruption is part and parcel of football, and most sports for that matter. Simply said, the stakes are too high and the money, easy money that is, is plentiful for the sharks.

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Ben Williams is to retire.

Jai Bednall
news.com.au@jaibednall

IMAGINE spending more than two decades at the very top of your field, and then when you retire, witnessing widespread celebration you were finally quitting.

That’s life as a football referee and the reality veteran Australian whistleblower Ben Williams faced today after announcing Tuesday night’s International Champions Cup match between Juventus and Tottenham at the MCG would be his last match in Australia.

“After 22 years on the national panels and 12 years as a FIFA referee it feels like the right time to hang up the whistle,” Williams said. “I’m looking forward to spending time with my increased family and giving back to them for all the love and support they afforded me throughout my career.”

The referee who cruelly and unfairly red carded Mehrdad Pooladi in the quarter-final match against Iraq , is perhaps the most hated of all the referees by Iranian fans throughout the history.  Not Only this dismissal was unjust to the player, it meant that the team had to play the rest of the match and extra time with one player short. Williams fell a victim of Iraqi goalkeeper play acting and was too naive at the scene. No Iranian will be missing this referee for sure. Good riddance is quite appropriate for a man that has gave a whole nation a hardship.

It’s some resume, but do you think it meant anything to A-League followers on Twitter? Of course not.

Australian betting company sportsbet.com.au — who are always attempting to find the lighter side of moments like this — were particularly savage.

One of their tweets — which included a gif of fans applauding the news — even prompted former ASADA boss Richard Ings to respond: “Why are people so unkind?”

But the betting gurus weren’t the only ones taking shots. This is how Twitter reacted.

 

David Schulze @davschulze

Is Ben Williams guide dog also retiring or will he be given to one of the other refs

Iran drawn against Korea Rep. again.

Iran was drawn with Korea Rep. , Uzbekistan , Qatar , China and Syria in Group A of the FIFA World Cup 2018 Final qualification rounds.

The draw was conducted by AFC General Secretary Dato Windsor John, with a helping hand from former Korea Republic star Park Ji-sung. Numerous personalities were in attendance, headed by the coaches of the teams that will contest the third round.

The latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking was used to split the 12-country field into six pots. These were then drawn into two groups of six teams, who will do battle for direct qualification to Russia 2018 between 1 September 2016 and 5 September 2017.

Both group winners and runners-up will go straight through to the 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, the two teams that finish third will meet in a two-legged showdown on 5 and 10 October 2017. Whoever triumphs in this double-header will look to secure their spot at the finals in an intercontinental play-off – also to be played over two legs – against the fourth-placed country from CONCACAF qualifying.

Australia , the AFC Asian Cup title holders is grouped with Japan , Saudi Arabia, UAE , Thailand, and Iraq in group B.

The two teams Iran and Korea Rep. will renew their rivalry once again in the qualification for the World Cup. In the last encounter , the relationship between the coaches were making the headlines and as there was not love lost between Carlo Queiroz and the South Korean Choi KANG-HEE . The South Korean for all his rhetorics ended up in the losing side and eventually resigned his job, South Korea survived by the skin of their teeth after Uzbekistan failed to score one more goal to put them ahead on goal difference in the other group matches.

The draw avoided a potential problem for FIFA and AFC after the Saudi’s claimed they will refuse to play in Iran.

Iran, Japan, Korea Rep.,  Australia and Qatar are the top seeds for qualification. The first round will commence on 1st September 2016.

 

MATCHES SCHEDULE

Matchday One
September 01, 2016 Thursday Iran vs. Qatar – H

Matchday Two
September 06, 2016 Tuesday China vs. Iran – A

Matchday Three
October 06, 2016 Thursday Uzbekistan vs. Iran – A

Matchday Four
October 11, 2016 Tuesday Iran vs.  South Korea – H

Matchday Five
November 15, 2016 Tuesday  Syria  vs. Iran – A

Matchday Six
March 23, 2017 Thursday Qatar vs. Iran – A

Matchday Seven
March 28, 2017 Tuesday Iran vs  China – H

Matchday Eight
June 13, 2017 Tuesday Iran vs. Uzbekistan – H

Matchday Nine
August 31, 2017 Thursday South Korea vs. Iran – A

Matchday Ten
September 5th, 2017 Iran vs. Syria – H

Iran Futsal looking for lost glory.

Tashkent: Coach Mohammad Nazemosharie is adamant Iran have their sights set on winning an 11th AFC Futsal Championship in Uzbekistan this month ahead of their Group B opener against Jordan on Wednesday.

Iran are comfortably the most successful side in the history of the AFC Futsal Championship having won 10 of the first 11 editions, although they were forced to settle for a runners-up finish in Vietnam in the 2014 tournament after a penalty shootout defeat to Japan.

But ahead of the meeting with Jordan at Universal Stadium, Nazemosharie is confident his side will return to winning ways.

“Futsal is very strong in Iran and we’ve come here to put on a good show,” said Nazemosharie.

“We respect all the teams in our group but we are aiming to be champions and we are a very powerful side.”

Jordan coach Salah Abu Jafer, though, is looking for a strong start for the debutants with an eye on the second round and will look to the likes of key player Samer Samih, who plays professionally in Qatar.

“It’s Jordan’s first time to reach the finals and the whole country is proud of this achievement,” said Abu Jafer.

“We’ve prepared well with several camps and our training has been good so we come in high spirits and with the aim of qualifying to the second stage.”

Also at Universal Stadium on Wednesday, Iraq will take on China with coach Haitham Abbas’ squad based on powerhouse club side, Naft Al Wasat.

No fewer than 12 of Iraq’s final 14 man selection are from the Najaf-based outfit who reached the semi-finals of last year’s AFC Futsal Club Championship.

“We don’t have any professional players in our squad unlike Iran but what we do have is a strong unity borne from the Naft Al Wasat side which is like a defacto national team,” said Abbas.

“Originally, I was looking at other players and we tried many different combinations but I kept coming back to the fact that this club had the best players – I’ve even called two goalkeepers from the same team.”

Opponents China also featured in the 2014 edition in Vietnam, although they failed to reach the knockout stage after losing to Iran, Australia and Indonesia but coach Shan Zhiping is hopeful of an improved performance.

“We’re very happy to be here in Uzbekistan and we’ve had a good preparation with the team being in camp since January 18,” said Shan.

“We enter with the same hopes and expectations as every other nation and that’s firstly to reach the knockout stage and ultimately to claim one of the five spots for this year’s World Cup.”

Photo: AFC

Three countries request to play World cup qualifying matches in Iran.

Due to security situation prevailing in their countries, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan have applied to the Iranian football federation and the government to play the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying home games on Iranian soils.

As Team Melli has its own schedule and since the matches are conducted on the same day in each round, complicated scheduling and arrangements have to be carried out in order to accommodate all the three countries request.

All these countries are important political allies for Iran and the welcoming rug has been extended by the government, however, the logistics and timing will prevent the availability of the stadiums for 4 teams at the same time.

Afghanistan is the first country to think of withdrawing its request to play on Iranian soils although it is the team that has the most fans in Iran. A recent youth tournament attracted over 90,000 Afghan fans in Azadi. Alireza Aghazadeh, the secretary of Afghanistan Football federation has said “The Iranian authorities and federation have been quite accommodating and welcomed our request. We know that Iraq and Syria have requested the same, so we need to be fair and look elsewhere. Syria is in our group which makes it even more complicated playing in Iran. We are looking at Tajikistan and UAE to host our matches.”

Afghanistan will be hosting Syria in the first match. As yet, the venue has not been decided.

Why Iran’s bid to oust Iraq from Asian Cup failed?

From the evidence and documents that the Iranians provided to the AFC and prior to that to FIFA , much of it was seen by journalists , It seems that there is a genuine doping case with verified positive test results . Al’a AbdulZahra the 27-year-old Iraqi player was tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, not only by the Iranian Doping commission, but also verified by a WADA-approved laboratory in Cologne, Germany.

By the time that the Cologne report was back, Al’a AbdulZahra abruptly left Tabriz under mysterious circumstances. His two years contract was cancelled by Tractorsazi. As such , the Iranian authorities and FFIRI , no longer had any jurisdiction on the Iraqi player who popped up in Baghdad ,  playing for the Police Club (Al Shorta).

According to the Iranian officials, the report and doping lab results on AbdulZahra was submitted to FIFA on September 2014 as mandated by the Games ruling body, and they left it at that.

FIFA did promised to  act,  but did not respond, verify or query the Iranian documents any further, according to the Iranian side, until the FFIRI once again contacted FIFA and demanded a response on January 21st , 2015. The trail ends there as no one has seen any official response from FIFA.

There is very little doubt, if any, that AbdulZahra should be suspended according to the rules. However, suspension must be announced after investigations and a verdict from the ruling body , in this case FIFA. Those in corridors of power in FIFA failed to act and for that reason only, the case of Iran against Abdul Zahra was doomed to fail.  The Iraq FA and the coach would not voluntarily suspend a valuable player unless there is a document and a ruling by FIFA or AFC. As long as there is nothing official, there is no case to answer.

AFC on the other hand, cannot overturn the result simply because there is no ruling. However , given all the documents and the doping results verified by approved WADA lab in Germany and still insisting that  Abdul Zahra is clear to play the next match, leaves major questions unanswered about the legitimacy of this issue. We suspect that those in power in AFC know a few things about the law and would not act arbitrarily. AFC has not issued any communique regarding the subject (up to the time of writing this report) and no explanation was provided on reasons for rejection of Iran’s case. There has to be genuine reasons for it , that the  Iranians officials have probably been informed about by AFC but it is not publicized yet.

In any case, these was serious doubt that Iraq would be thrown out from the moment that this issues was raised. We find that if there is a case, it is between FFIRI and FIFA , not with AFC or the AFC Asian Cup organizers.

AFC rejects Iran doping claims.

Sydney (AFP) – Iran‘s protest that Iraq fielded an ineligible player in their stormy Asian Cup quarter-final was shot down following lengthy deliberation by tournament organisers on Sunday.

Iran lodged a formal complaint, claiming that midfielder Alaa Abdulzehra failed a drugs test while playing for an Iranian club last year, but it was rejected by the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) disciplinary committee.

“It’s rejected, they said this player can carry on and play,” Iranian delegation head Houshang Moghaddas told AFP. “Iraq tomorrow can play … tomorrow morning we fly (home),” he added.

An AFC statement released later said that the protest was “unfounded”, without giving further details.

The decision follows several hours of closed-door talks in Sydney with Iraqi and Iranian delegates both giving evidence to the AFC’s disciplinary committee.

It means 2007 champions Iraq, who won Friday’s combustible match on penalties, are free to contest their semi-final against South Korea on Monday.

Iraqi coach Radhi Shenaishil insisted the 11th-hour protest had not distracted his team as they made final preparations for the last-four clash in Sydney.

“The objection has been officially closed and the subject is closed from our side,” he told reporters at Stadium Australia. “We have nothing to add. The (protest) from the Iran team is something they created and hasn’t affected us at all for tomorrow’s match.”

The AFC’s decision also avoids the messy scenario of throwing out Iraq and reinstating Iran, which would probably also have meant rescheduling the semi-final.

Iran’s protest centred on their claim that Adulzehra, now playing for Iraq’s Al Shorta, failed a drugs test while at Iranian club side Tractor Sazi last year.

According to documents seen by AFP, the 27-year-old tested positive for banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, in results that were verified by a WADA-approved laboratory in Cologne.

In an email exchange dated last September, world football body FIFA promised to take action but there is no record of a suspension for Abdulzehra.

Iranian officials raised the matter again with FIFA on January 21, the day after Iraq qualified for a quarter-final with their fierce rivals by finishing second in Group D.

Moghaddas said he was bitterly disappointed by the result of the Iran’s appeal, which confirms the departure of the three-time champions.

“The AFC are supporting players who are doping, who are using drugs and playing,” he said. “I don’t accept this kind of decision. I refuse.”

A spokesman for the Iraqi team was dismissive of the Iranian appeal, which prompted them to change their flights to await the verdict.

“Let them stay here as much as they want,” the Iraqi official told AFP.

Iraq won Friday’s spicy encounter against their neighbours and bitter rivals 7-6 on penalties after Iran were reduced to 10 men and extra time finished with the scores at 3-3.

Recriminations started immediately after the match when Iran coach Carlos Queiroz complained bitterly about the referee’s decision to send off one of his players for simulation.

Iran is taking up a doping allegation against an Iraqi player.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi is in Sydney on an urgent mission to prove that an Iraqi player has been found doping and should have been ineligible from playing against Iran in the quarter final match on Friday.

Al’a Abdul Zahra , was a Tractrorsazi player in the Iranian league when a routine doping test was found to be positive by the Iranian doping commission. By the time samples were sent to Cologne Germany for further confirmation, the Iraqi player  mysteriously disappeared and was released by his club to join Police Club (AlShorta) in Baghdad. The Iranians did not pursue the matter any further.

Now,  FFIRI is asking the AFC to act on this matter and investigate the charges against the player. Apparently, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi has all the documented evidence to raise the case against the Iraqi player including test results from the laboratory in Cologne Germany.

Abdul-Zahra joined Tractorsazi on 20 July 2014 signing a two-year contract with the club. He played his first match for Tractorsazi on 8th of August 2014 against Zob Ahan. Just after a month with the Tabrizi club, he decided to leave. He was officially released on September 10th, 2014 under dubious circumstances.

Abdul-Zahra played for 65 minutes in the match against Iran before being substituted in the second half.

If the case against Abdul-Zahra is proven, Iran will be declared the winner of the match, however, chances of this happening is quite remote especially since the semifinals will be on Monday. Iran Squad was supposed to leave Sydney en route to Tehran this morning, Saturday.

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Iraq’s Al’a Abdul Zahra in Japan match
EXCLUSIVE: The AFC Asian Cup has been rocked by allegations that Iraq fielded an ineligible player in Friday’s dramatic quarter-final win over Iran.
By: Scott McIntyre

24 JAN 2015 – 7:39 PM 
 Sources have told TWG that the Iranian Football Federation has made a formal complaint to FIFA concerning the eligibility of Iraq midfielder Alaa Abdul Zahra.

The complaint stems from an alleged doping violating during the time Abdul Zahra spent last year playing with Iranian club side Tractor Sazi.

An AFC spokesperson confirmed to TWG that it is aware of the case and is awaiting further information from FIFA.

Iraq beat Iran on penalties after a 3-3 draw in Canberra on Friday to earn the right to face Korea Republic in the semi-finals in Sydney on Monday.

It’s understood that the Iranian side has delayed its exit from Australia awaiting a response from the world governing body, which is expected on Saturday evening.

Iran’s National Anti-Doping Agency deputy Ramin Tabatabaei told news agency Tasnim that Abdul Zahra failed a drug test when he was playing in the country.

“I informed Mr Sajjadi (vice-president of Professional and Athletic Sports Development) when we understood Team Melli would play Iraq in the quarter-final,” Tabatabaei said.

Iraq coach wants rival fans separated for Iran clash in Asian Cup

Lee Gaskin

Sports reporter at The Canberra Times

Iraq coach Radhi Shenaishil has called on Asian Cup organisers to have rival fans seated in different parts of Canberra Stadium for Friday night’s emotion-charged quarter-final with Iran.

Another sold-out crowd of more than 18,000 is expected for the clash of two countries that were at war from 1980 to 1988.

The hostilities have been resolved off the pitch, with Iran taking a 1-0 win against Iraq in a friendly in Wollongong in January as a lead-up to the Asian Cup.

Shenaishil said he wasn’t happy that Iraq supporters were sitting in the same section of the stadium as Palestine fans during his team’s 2-0 win at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night.

“From an organising point of view, they [the fans] should be separate,” Shenaishil said. “Having both [teams’] fans together doesn’t mean all fans are there to make trouble.

“Sometimes that happens through a misunderstanding. Most of the fans are there to support their team and have a wonderful time but there should be more organisation in regards to separating fans.”

A spokesperson for the local organising committee said there were no plans to segregate fans and that there had been no trouble at all during the tournament.

“Fans of all teams have been colourful and passionate but also sporting and very well-behaved,” the spokesperson said.

“Nothing has happened to suggest this should change.

“We encourage fans from Iran and Iraq to attend the quarter-final in great numbers, to enjoy the football, to cheer on their teams and to do so in a sporting manner – just as they have been doing for the whole tournament.

“This is what watching sport in Australia is all about.”

More than 63,000 people have attended the six games in Canberra so far, including a sold-out crowd of just over 18,000 to see China beat North Korea 2-1.

Iraq finished second in its group behind Japan and is trying to make its record two out three cups – it hoisted the trophy aloft in 2007.

It’s been a far longer wait for Iran, which is aiming to break a 39-year drought after winning three successive tournaments from 1968 to 1976.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said it was important to try to take the emotion out of the game.

“It’s not easy,” he said. “I said to my boys this morning, ‘It’s everything for the winner and nothing for the loser’. The most important thing is to be focused and concentrated in our duties and our tasks.”

Iran is the top-ranked team in Asia at 51st in the world and hasn’t conceded a goal in the tournament through its opening three games.

Shenaishil said it wasn’t fair his team had one day fewer for preparation than Iran for the quarter-final and believed it should be changed for future tournaments.

He also said the instability and conflict in Iraq would be a positive for his team’s performance.

“It gives us more of a push to bring happiness and a positive result to our country in this competition,” Shenaishil said.

“There’s history between the two teams. I want to see a quality match and give the right impression of the football in Asia.”

The winner of the Iran-Iraq quarter-final will play either South Korea or Uzbekistan in the first semi-final at Sydney on Australia Day.