In the match held at the Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Stadium, the ‘Persian Leopards’ registered their fourth successive in Group C.

Azmoun scored the only goal of the match in the 35th minute from a pass from captain Ehsan Haji Safi in the left flank.

Iran advanced to the third round with 18 points, one point above Iraq.

Bahrain defeated Hong Kong 4-0 to sit third in the group with 15 points.

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Thursday, 11th March marked the first anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 a global pandemic. On making that dramatic announcement, WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom emphasized that “Pandemic” was not a word to use lightly or carelessly.

With that announcement life as we knew it, changed. One-third of the whole world went into lockdown. What did not deem essential came to a complete halt, with sports and football amongst those.

All forms of domestic and international football at all levels stopped. The Asian Football Confederation’s joint FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 / AFC Asian Cup China 2023 matches, scheduled on the two FIFA dates in March 2020 were put on ice. The AFC has since tried to reschedule the last four rounds of their eight qualifying groups to no avail and lost 12 FIFA dates, including the March 2021 window.

The continent’s governing body decided to consult with its member associations in mid-February to make a “collective decision” to wrap up the first-round group stage in a centralized format in June to tackle travel restrictions for national teams crisscrossing Asia.

However, the Iranian football fans were wary of this decision as even ahead of the official AFC announcement of matches to be played centrally, they had seen messages across Arabic social media platforms that Bahrain had secured the rights to host the final eight matches in Group C, an act of utter injustice if it were to materialize.

Iran along with other seeded teams had played three away games and one home game against the lowest-seeded team in their group. If Australia, China, Japan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and The United Arab Emirates could secure the approval of their own country’s health authorities, they would be designated as hosts, by virtue of the spirit of “Fair Play”.

Much to the horror of the Iranian fans, AFC handed over the hosting rights to their rivals, Bahrain, under the pretext of sanctions and the fact that AFC and their commercial partners would not be able to operate in Iran, a completely false pretext. The rights of this stage of the qualifiers in Asia, as per AFC’s own directive belong to each host nation and as such, they had no commercial function at any of the 97 matches, including Iran’s home tie against Cambodia in October 2019, and will not have any business to conduct in the remaining 63 matches of the first round group stage.

Of the eight seeded nations, six have secured their hosting rights, but not Iran and Australia. The Australian authorities did not sanction the staging of Group B in their country either.

The Iranian fans, who had feared that this decision would be made in the dark corridors of power and away from the proper due diligence, have proven right.  The Iranian football authorities alerted AFC of their concerns that they would be the only seeded team not receiving the hosting rights, based on credible evidence. The AFC did not respond to their letter of Sunday, March 7. Tasnim News Agency who had followed online chatters also sent a query to AFC’s Media department for a comment. Neither the federation nor the news agency received even an acknowledgment, let alone a proper response.

Was AFC’s so-called “consultation process” with their member associations in mid-February just a show? It seems to have been. Next time the AFC displays that “Fair Play” flag at any of their competitions under the watchful eyes of their Bahraini President – Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa – should realize how hollow that slogan would sound and look. A slogan, like a word Pandemic that cannot be used lightly or carelessly.

This “endemic injustice” and clear favoritism of Sheikh Salman’s own home country has deeply wounded 85-million ardent football fans in Iran, arguably the most passionate across the world. FIFA will need to interfere and save the face of Asian Football before the world game that it governs.

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The elections have been postponed due to FIFA’s objections over the FFIRI statutes several times.

FFIRI was involved in a long process with the world governing body over alleged government interference.

FIFA demanded changes to the FFIRI statutes more than a year ago and rejected amended documents submitted on several occasions. Finally, it was in the last month that FIFA approved the football federation’s statutes.

Iran, a nation of largely football-mad people, is not where it should be because the basic needs have not been met over the past decades.

While football is the most coveted sport in Iran and could generate income, the infrastructures have not yet been equipped after many years.

For example, the Iranian football officials have previously said over and over again they would use Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the stadiums. We see so many Iranian teams protest the decisions and say refereeing decisions have gone against them because there is no VAR to prove that they are right or not.

Iran football has shown in recent years how powerful it is, since, for instance, football club Persepolis has qualified for the AFC Champions League final twice in three years. It means the country has a great potential to grow and become more competitive, but it depends on who is leading the football.

Based on the FFIRI’s electoral commission’s announcement, Ali Karimi, Mostafa Ajorloo, Shahabeddin Azizi Khadem, and Kiumars Hashemi will vie for the presidency.

Karimi, the legendary Iranian footballer, who has played in Iran’s national football team more than 100 times, has been welcomed by the Iranian football family. However, experience has shown that the most deserved people sometimes could not win the elections.

The three other candidates have previously worked in Iran football but a real change is needed for Iranian football. Maybe, Karimi, as a former player of Bayern Munich, can make change our football.

Iran football needs a renaissance, whether Karimi wins the elections or not.

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Persepolis, which celebrated a fourth consecutive Persian Gulf Pro League title in August, will take on Group C leader Al Taawoun of Saudi Arabia, knowing that any result other than a victory will compromise Reds’ chances of booking a place in the knockout phase.

A first day defeat at Al Duhail (2-0) and a 2-2 draw against Sharja have left Yahya Golmohammadi’s men trailing the Saudi side and Al Duhail by five and two points respectively.

Golmohammadi will hope new signings Ehsan Pahlevan and Issa Alekasir will fill the void in the frontline after the club parted ways with last season’s top scorers Ali Alipour and Mehdi Torabi.

Al Taawoun, meanwhile, survived a domestic scare, managing to avoid relegation on the final day of the newly-finished Saudi Pro League season.

Navidkia debut

Sepahan will embark on a new era under manager Moharam Navidkia – who has only been in charge of the club for a week – against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

The Isfahan-based side got off to a flying start in Group D, thrashing Emirati club Al Ain 4-0, before suffering a 3-0 defeat against Xavi’s Al Sadd of Qatar.

Al Nassr stands second in the group with four points, only behind Al Sadd on an inferior goal difference, with Sepahan at third place.

Al Nassr lost its domestic title to rival Al Hilal last Wednesday, settling for the runner-up spot.

Wahda withdrawal

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) COVID-19 Sub-Committee decided that the UAE’s Al Wahda shall be considered to have withdrawn from the competition, having failed to arrive in Doha ahead of their remaining Group A matches.

The Emirati side had reported last week that several of its players have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Al Wahda was to play a double header against Iran’s Esteghlal today and Thursday.

The committee said that the circumstances surrounding the club’s failure to arrive “constituted an event of force majeure” and that the matches played by Al Wahda in the competition shall be considered “null and void”.

No points or goals from the previous matches involving Al Wahda will be considered in determining the final group standing, the AFC added.

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