According to the reports, the Iranian football federation has been told it must prevent to invite the tattooed players to the national team.

The Ethics Committee of Iran’s Football Federation had previously issued repeated warnings to players, describing having a tattoo as unprofessional.

Iranian authorities’ sensitivity is heightened for footballers, because football is one of the most popular sports on Iranian TV — with a particularly high following among families.

The Iranian players, who have tattoos on their arms, always enter the playing field with long-sleeved tops, wear a short-sleeved shirt in their team’s games.

Ashkan Dejagah and Sardar Azmoon had been summoned by the Ethics Committee of the Iranian Football Federation for revealing tattoos on their arms during Team Melli’s games.

Iran considers athletes to be role models responsible for promoting “Islamic values” to the younger generation.

Iranian state media often refers to tattoos as a symbol of “Westernization” or part of a Western “cultural invasion” of Islamic society.

“Tattoos on the bodies of players is against Iranian culture and is detrimental to our society,” a top official had already said.

MOSCOW – Iran national football team are sweating on Ashkan Dejagah’s fitness ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

With two days remaining to the crucial match against Morocco in Group B of the 2018 World Cup, Dejagah is not completely fit for the competition.

Dejagah returned with a goal after about four months in late May in a friendly match against Turkey, where Team Melli lost 2-1.

He had suffered a knee injury in Nottingham Forest’s training in February.

The 31-year-old iconic midfielder had been a regular for Iran in their successful qualifying campaign and his absence in the key match against Morocco could be a big blow for Carlos Queiroz’s side.

Iran national football team will likely miss striker Mehdi Taremi in their first match.

Team Melli will meet the Atlas Lions on Friday in St Petersburg.

Iran, making their fifth appearance in the World Cup finals, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.

Reporting by Masoud Hossein

TEHRAN – Iran national football team captain Ashkan Dejagah says they must learn from mistakes after losing to Turkey 2-1 in a friendly match at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium in Istanbul.

Dejagah returned with a goal after about four months. He suffered a knee injury in Nottingham Forest’s training in February.

“It doesn’t matter that who has made mistake, we all are responsible for the defeat,” Dejagah told reporters.

“There is no excuse for our loss. But we must learn from our mistakes. It is a learning process and we will get back to winning ways,” he added.

“It was a good test for Team Melli playing Turkey because I think they have the same style of football as that of Morocco,” Dejagah continued.

Ex- Wolfsburg midfielder also lauded the Iranian fans who were present at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium.

The warm-up match with Turkey was as part of preparation for the 2018 World Cup, where Iran have been drawn in Group B along with Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

The Iran national football team will open the campaign with a match against Morocco at Saint Petersburg on June 15.

Team Melli, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Saransk five days later.

TEHRAN – Iranian international midfielder Ashkan Dejagah will leave championships side Nottingham Forest.

Forest finished the season in 17th place with 53 points, two points better off than a year ago.

At the top, Wolves secured promotion and an impressive 99 points, followed by Cardiff, with Fulham, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Derby settling for places in the play-offs.

Dejagah, who is out of contract this summer, signed a short-term deal until the end of the season when he joined as a free agent during the January window.

Nottingham Forest have published their retained list following the end of the 2017/18 campaign – and officially confirmed that Chris Cohen, David Vaughan, Jack Hobbs and Ashkan Dejagah will not be offered new deals.

TEHRAN – Nottingham Forest coach Aitor Karanka says Iranian international midfielder Ashkan Dejagah has taken a knock to his knee in the training and they are waiting to find out how serious it is.

The 31-year-old is expected to be missing for at least a month – and it may be for longer than that.

Dejagah has made only one appearance for Forest following his arrival as a free agent in January, ironically against his former club Fulham, where he played during their time in the Premier League.

“We are waiting to find out how serious it is,” Forest coach Karanka told Nottingham Post. “He took a knock to his knee and we are trying to know what the outcome is.

“It is a shame, because he was desperate to play, he was desperate to help us and desperate to earn his chance in the World Cup, with his country.

“We will see what happens. I don’t know how much it will impact his time here. I am not a doctor. We will see what happens. But it does not look good and it is a shame for him and us.”

Dejagah signed a deal until the end of the season when he arrived at the City Ground, as one of a flurry of 10 new additions.

Iranian-Swedish midfielder Saman Ghoddos says that he will fight for his place in Team Melli starting line up with Ashkan Dejagah.

Ghoddos was invited to Iran national football team in the match against South Korea in the 2018 World Cup qualifier but didn’t play.
“The Iranian football federation asked me to join Team Melli’s preparatory camp in late September but I have to play in Europa League match with Ostersunds FK. I will join the Iranian national team in Russia in October,” Ghoddos said in an interview with SvenskaFans.com.
Ghoddos says he was treated well by everyone in Iran national football team.
“When I met them for the first time I saw so many talented players in Team Melli. Everything was professionally managed there. The players treated me well, I immediately felt like part of a big family,” he added.
“Ashkan Dejagah was one of the players who took good care of me, and everyone treated me well. Ashkan is my main rival in Team Melli but I will fight for a place with him. It’s normal in football. We are friends outside the pitch but we are competing for a place at the field,” the 24-year-old stated.
“I want to be a member of main team in the 2018 World Cup but I am well aware I will have a difficult job ahead of me. It’s a dream come true to play with the best teams in the world,” Ghoddos concluded.