As the global downturn takes its toll on the world
economy, Iranian soccer clubs are entangled with a financial crisis of their
own.
The crisis has affected big and small clubs alike, from Iranian Premier League (IPL)
champion Persepolis to second division club Ararat, which belongs to the
Armenian minority of Iran.
It is true that all the Iranian soccer clubs are more or
less supported by government-related organizations. However, what has befallen
Persepolis clearly indicates the dangers that may threaten smaller clubs.
IPL club Payam Mashhad's players abandoned training for more than a month after
financial problems prevented the club from making any payments to them.
Ararat, which was founded in 1944 and is one of the oldest soccer clubs in Iran,
has decided not to play in the second division for a season in an attempt to
restructure the club which has been struggling with financial difficulties.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has made substantial changes to the Asian
Champions League from the 2009 season. Iran, along with other Asian soccer
superpowers such as South Korea and Japan, was allowed to have four clubs in the
competition.
However, the Iranian clubs, unlike their South Korean and Japanese counterparts,
do not seem to have met the qualifications the AFC has set for the
newly-organized Champions League:
Firstly, few Iranian clubs have private stadiums and these private stadiums do
not measure up to international standards.
Secondly, Iranian clubs receive no payments from TV channels which broadcast
their matches. A contract has been signed between broadcasters and the Iranian
Football Federation (IFF). However, the contract is only a formality signed upon
the AFC's demand.
Soccer in Iran seems to lack the professionalism of other Asian countries, even
that of the Persian Gulf Arab states, which, not long ago, lagged behind Iran.
In Iran, where the amount of neither the players' nor the managers' contracts
are made public; where a sports program falls out of favor for criticizing the
decisions of the IFF and PEO, the road to professionalism seems to be a long
one.
