Mahdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, in his latest statements regarding the hosting situation of international competitions, announced the continuation of Iran's deprivation from this privilege this year. This news comes at a time when the Iranian national football team and Iranian clubs have been deprived of holding competitions in their own country due to the lack of hosting privileges, which could have profound impacts on Iranian football and its fans.
Hosting Privileges and Existing Challenges
Mahdi Taj emphasized in his statements that Iran will not receive any hosting privileges this year and likely no competitions will be held in the country. He stated that this situation is due to existing problems in infrastructure and airport services, adding: "We are not getting 20 hosting points; we are getting zero points." This lack of hosting has raised significant concerns among football fans and the sports community.
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Comparison with Other Countries
Taj further compared Iran's situation with other countries like Yemen and Saudi Arabia, which, despite war conditions, still host international competitions. He said: "The level of spread is different, and there are also issues regarding airports and flights." It seems Taj wants to emphasize that Iran's infrastructural and service problems are so serious that they stem from an inability to manage and meet basic needs for hosting competitions.
Flight Issues and Lack of Necessary Conditions
The president of the Football Federation also referred to flight problems within the country and the difficulties of sending referees to different cities. He stated: "If I want to send a referee to Shahrebabak, what problems do we face?" This statement reflects the significant challenges for Iranian football, which depend not only on hosting competitions but also on conducting any type of sports activity.
In this situation, Iranian football fans must wait and see whether the Football Federation will be able to resolve these issues or not. The question remains unanswered whether the future of Iranian football can be brighter than today or whether it will continue to live in the shadow of deprivations. Currently, this situation will impact not only the national team but the entire sports community and requires serious attention.
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