Iranian football is making a comeback, but this time under the shadow of war and economic challenges. Three months ago, the Iranian national team went to the World Cup and was trying to play in a country that has experienced bombing and missile attacks on Tehran. Now it seems that this war has had profound effects on the domestic league.
League Suspension and Its Effects
The Iranian football league was suspended for more than six months due to the war, and this had many negative impacts on players and fans. Sohrab Bakhtiyari-Zadeh, the head coach of Esteghlal, said: "The prolonged suspension of competitions was not only sad for the players and teams but also for the fans. This was a tough period for our football and will certainly lead to the weakening of this sport and its passionate supporters."
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Controversy Over League Championship
Esteghlal was the league leader, two points ahead of Tractor with 22 games played out of 30. Bakhtiyari-Zadeh believes that Esteghlal should be declared the champion of last season. He added: "Being at the top of the table is one of the appropriate criteria for determining the most successful team in a tournament, and this is what Esteghlal fans also want."
However, a final decision has not yet been made, and many teams, especially those owned by industrial companies, have opposed this demand. Nevertheless, Esteghlal has kept hopes alive with a good start in the new league.
Return to the International Stage
This week, Esteghlal celebrated its return to the international arena with a 3-0 victory over Al-Sadd of Qatar in the AFC Champions League. This match was held in Basra, Iraq, and Iranian fans were present at the game. Bakhtiyari-Zadeh noted: "The lack of a home advantage is one of the biggest challenges that Iranian football has faced in recent years, but the presence of Iranian fans in Basra energized us."
Currently, Iranian football is facing economic challenges due to sanctions and high costs from competitors, especially Saudi Arabia. However, Bakhtiyari-Zadeh expressed hope that his team could resist these challenges and return to its past successes through effort and unity.
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