May 12, 2023
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has fined Iran’s soccer federation $300,000 over fraudulent practices in the issuance of professional licenses to clubs, Iranian officials say. The AFC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has sent a letter to the Islamic Republic’s football federation to inform it of the decision. “We had time to respond until yesterday, which we did. But personally, I have no hope this response [explanations] will be accepted. We must not cheat again,” Mehdi Taj (photo), the head of the federation, said April 14. In 2020, the Iranian football federation was fined $120,000 on similar grounds. The latest decision comes after Esteghlal F.C. was barred from participating in the AFC’s Champions League for failing to pay its debts and to secure a professional license.
