The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Brussels has announced that Marc Welmots has signed a contract with Iran football federation FFIRI.

According to ISNA, Welmots officially signed a three-year contract to lead Team Melli after the meeting with the head of the federation’s Mehdi Taj in Brussels today. Welmots who previously traveled to Tehran to visit the federation’s facilities, will arrive in Tehran in the coming days to start the preparing Team Melli for the two friendly international matches against Syria and South Korea.

Sheikh Ali, adviser to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Belgium, in an interview with the ISNA correspondent, confirmed the signing of the contract  “The talks were held at the embassy residence in Brussels, which resulted in the signing of the contract, but the embassy had no role whatsoever and has not participated in the negotiations. Sheikh Ali, also rejected any claims that the embassy has assured the Belgium coach of receiving his salary through the Iranian embassy account in Belgium or any other sort of payment to Welmots. He, said: “We have not had any talks on this matter which was purely between the FFIRI and the coach. This issue has nothing to do with the embassy. Consensual negotiations were conducted, and the embassy also did not give Mr. Welmots any guarantee of his salary. We, at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, provided the logistical for the FFIRI and hosting the venue of negotiation.”

“Any issue regarding the details of the contract must be referred to Mr. Mehdi Taj.”

Earlier, Belgian media reported that the talks between Taj and Welmots have stalled and suspended because of a disagreement over the residing of the Belgian coach in Tehran. Those media news spoke of the possibility of abandoning of the contract.

According to ISNA, Mehdi Taj has left Brussels  heading to Tehran at 15:00 hours.