Tehran.

Ali Kaffashian, the president of FFIRI announced that a deal has been agreed with a local firm to sponsor Team Melli for the upcoming World Cup. The procrastination of this federation on properly negotiating marketing deals has resulted in acute financial difficulties for the team the result of which is the complete stoppage of activities. While the rest of the world teams are engaged in friendly matches or training camps, there is no participation of Team Melli in any meaningful activities or training exercises in form of camps or matches.

Kaffashian said that “After a long negotiation  (…) we have finalized a deal to sponsor Team Melli for the World Cup. The sponsor is a local company and the name will be announced next week. “. Such delay in identifying the sponsor probably means that the deal is not finalized perhaps awaiting approvals and the passing of the Bureaucratic Process on both sides.

The timing of the deal is crucial after the mass critical reaction of all concerned in the aftermath of cancellation of Team Melli training camp in Portugal.

In the meantime, the under-secretary of the Ministry of sport, Salehi Amiri met with Ali Kaffashian and Carlos Queiroz in the Ministry’s offices. The minister of Youth & Sports is yet to be appointed after the parliament rejected President Rouhani’s candidate. In the meeting, the under-secretary conveyed a message for the Iran’s President advocating full government support for the National team.

After the meeting on Thursday, Queroz informed the media that they had a fruitful meeting “Kaffashian was quite transparent and informed the ministry of all the problems that the team is facing. I am hoping that we can continue our program. I am referring to the under-secretary’s word as I left the ministry quite hopeful”

 There was no word of full support, financial commitment assistance or anything tangible in the negotiation from either side after the meeting. Promises to assist & support, are customary occurrences when it comes to Team Melli, as previously experienced by the ex-President AhmadiNejad and several of his minister on many occasions. However, in reality, not much has materialized. It is remained to be seen if these talks turn into proper support morally and financially for Team Melli.