Qotbi gets vote of confidence as Iran coach

July 9, 2009

TEHRAN (AFP) – Iran on Wednesday kept faith with coach Afshin Qotbi agreeing a new 18-month contract despite the team’s failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Iranians, a traditional powerhouse of Asian football, were dumped out of the World Cup qualifiers in the closing matchday of Asia’s qualifying final round last month, only managing a 1-1 draw against South Korea.

Iranian-American Qotbi vowed to resurrect the team’s fortunes in the forthcoming Asian Cup after the Iranians’ disappointing performance in the World Cup campaign.

Speaking after signing an 18-month contract with the Iranian Football Federation, Qotbi said: “I will harness all of our football human wealth and my coaching knowledge to make Team Melli Asia’s champion,” the ISNA news agency reported.

Qotbi was brought in after the Iranian football federation sacked two home grown coaches, Ali Daei and Mohammad Mayelikohan, in quick succession due to poor performances and disputes over tactics.

The American-trained coach previously worked with the US national team before a long stint assisting Dutch coaches Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and then Pim Verbeek with the South Koreans.

The Iranians’ hopes for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar are looking bright: they head group E ahead of their next fixtures against Singapore, Thailand and Jordan.

Qotbi blamed poor preparation for the lack of success in the World Cup effort.

“I talked to the football federation to furnish us a special plane for our away matches, prepare the ground for friendly matches with worthy teams,” he said.

“These items were on my mind when I was negotiating with the federation and my salary as coach was my least concern,” he said.

“We should plan in a way so when we are in Brazil (2014 World Cup) we should be able to make it to the second round,” he added.

Iran are hoping for a return to their heyday they enjoyed in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when they were Asian champions three times.

The Iranians managed to reach two World Cups after the 1979 Islamic revolution: in France (1998) and in Germany (2006).

Team Melli’s only win in the event was at the French tournament when they overcame arch foes United States 2-1.

Following the South Korea match, two leading players – Ali Karimi and skipper Mehdi Mahdavikia – resigned from the national team amid rumours some of the squad were being punished for wearing green armbands in support of the political opposition.

Iranian authorities dismissed the claims as “lies and mischievous acts.”

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FIFA demand clarification on Iran football punishment

June 25, 2009

GENEVA (AFP) – Football’s world governing body FIFA wrote to the Iranian football federation on Wednesday to ask for answers over alleged punishments meted out to several of their players for wearing wristbands reflecting their support for opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

Six of them wore the green wristbands during the 2010 World Cup qualifier 1-1 draw with South Korea last week, including two of their icons Ali Karimi and skipper Mehdi Mahdavikia.

It has been reported, largely by English television station Channel Four News on Tuesday and the left leaning Guardian newspaper on Wednesday that they had been told they would never play for their country again because of their stance.

A FIFA spokesperson told AFP on Wednesday that they had written a letter asking for more information.

“We wrote a letter to the Iranian Federation to ask for some answers and clarification regarding the press reports over what happened to some of the Iranian players following the qualifier with South Korea on June 17,” the spokesperson said.

Iran has refused to overturn the results of the controversial presidential poll which saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected despite a wave of public demonstrations and complaints that the June 12 election was rigged.

However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – who has ruled over the Islamic republic for 20 years – has extended by five days a Wednesday deadline to examine vote complaints.

The authorities have also intensified a crackdown on Mousavi, with the arrest of 25 staff at his newspaper and vitriolic attacks from the hardline press.

Another defeated candidate, former Revolutionary Guards chief Mohsen Rezai, has withdrawn his protest about election irregularities, in a blow to the opposition.