Woes of professional football, only 3 clubs+1 are privately owned !

[maij]

Payam , Abo Moslem , Damash and in a certain way Esteghlal Ahvaz are the only private clubs in Iran, the rest are run by the government or its companies/organizations.

This was the subject of quite an interesting discussion and lecture on Navad by two members of the league committee.

The surprising thing is that the two Gentlemen (Ajerloo and Aziz Mohammadi) were well prepared , briefed the viewers comprehensively and accurately about the problems of Professional football and they certainly knew what they are talking about....They were themselves professional ( shame about the attire , though!)

I regret that I did not record it for further discussion here , but I will certainly try to highlight some of the ideas that was discussed. I think it is very interesting for anyone who has any interest in the creation of proper professional league and the problems that Iran faces.

Stay tuned.

[maij]

As many people already know , the creation of a professional league that meets the strict AFC Champions league criteria , is quite deep rooted. It will only take a miracle for Iranian clubs to change the status to create private entities , self supported and self managed just like a commercial company.

Some of the major problems facing the privatization is legislation , or lack of it and intellectual property rights. These two need a long time to process through the legislators and majlis ( that is if there is no further layers of authority is required to pass such stringent and complicated laws)

Perhaps in the immediate future , the situation is a bit more hopeful , as AFC has given the federation and the clubs some time to get their house in order. However , this season's ACL could become a difficult target for the 4 clubs. Only Saba Battery stadium is approved plus Azadi of course. Fooladshahr is still lacking some facilities and pending approval.

The question of Perspolis and Esteghlal playing in Azadi was really comical and the answers of Aziz Mohammadi , who was until now doing fine , was quite disappointing. He said that we (IFF or League management) will ask AFC not to schedule PP and SS at the same time because they will be using Azadi , at which Ferdowsipour became quite uptight and told Aziz Mohammadi " Please don't say that because everyone will laugh at you" he said this repeatedly. Adel said " how can you dictate to AFC when your teams will be playing ? This is a joke" . Aziz Mohammadi CEO of the league said , at least we will try and if we fail we will nominate Takhti stadium for one f them!!!!!!

My own thoughts , is that Iran is in DIRE NEED of professional managers and professional mentalities. What Aziz Moahammadi said , was a typical Iranian mentality in which they think they can twist anything if they try hard enough (inshallah), including breaking the regulations!!! Or as the English say " Try to pull a fast one!"

[maij]

Sardar Ajerloo , ex Pas Tehran Chairman , talks more professionally and logically. Aziz Mohammadi was disappointing to say the least.

[maij]

Ajerloo has put some feasible suggestion to establish a professional league. The proposals included ; long term government loan with low interest rates to the clubs , provision of stadiums in form of long leases , encouraging private investments for corporate to participate in supporting the clubs ( provided that these corporate get a return on investment ) , creating proper TV rights broadcast agreement to benefit all parties , protecting clubs from piracy and preventing of unauthorized sales of merchandise and setting up of an audit programs on the clubs by the league to ensure that the clubs are in a good financial health.

Sardar Ajerloo has also indicated that there are many modules that Iran league can follow and his preference was the Turkish league, however they don't have to follow one example. Ajerloo added that he was confident that professional football can thrive in Iran if MANAGED properly. My own concern is on the word MANAGED. Plans and strategies are all very well, but executing them and strictly adhering to the guidelines of professional entities is something that the Iranians have been always lacking.

Ferdowsipour , mentioned a lot of current problems that Iran football is facing and questioned whether Iran has a professional mentality to start with. He said " On what basis the league management cancels a match between Payam and Bargh just because Payam had a financial problem?Gentlemen, you have these glorious plans while basics issues that does not require complicated planning or decision making are not handled properly , what chances do we have to tackle the real issues ? . There are far too many shortcomings in the system as it is and we are calling this league a professional league, to me only by name not by practice

Aziz Mohammady said "Inshallah , we will tackle these issues .." in which Adel suddenly burst his bubble but in a majestic way in my opinion and said " We have been living in this Inshallah mode for years and keep hoping , while the reality and the facts tells us otherwise " ......

The cream of all this as per my understanding, is that there are grand plans to create a proper professional league and I personally believe it is doable although highly doubtful about the exaction and success. BUT....and a big BUT , from track record , I always find Iranian management deficient and unbalanced. Hardly anything works according to plan, and the mentality is as such that plans can change anytime depending on the priorities or circumstances....No harm of canceling a match or Two because it is "Eid Ghadir " , or a march against American Imperialism is far more important for the masses than Perspoils match on Friday , so let us delay that match in order to attract the crowds to the march rather than people flocking to Azadi....and things to such effects.

I do feel that the mission is quite difficult, but not impossible. I feel sympathy for the people who are trying hard to create the league and personally think they should be supported, but the political and the social environment in Iran makes such a far fetched dream....

I will be watching with great interest.

On a happier note , I was glad to know that an old friend of mine was appointed as the AFC observer in Iran whose task is to audit the requirement of ACL standards of the stadiums.

[Adesor Vafaseya]

interesting!

as time passes ppl in charge at IFF talk and talk more than actions.....

[Ali Chicago]

I realize and acknowledge the level of disappointment with the IFF and the whole IRI regime. Having said that, I am not sure privatization in the current situation in Iran will be an improvement.
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying privatization is a bad thing in general, but privatization will help if there are proper sport managemeres who have experience managing private sport teams and a strong industry (Daimler, Bayer, AIG,etc.) to back up this professional managers (clubs) f in lieu of advertisement. In Iran, this situation doesn't exist. I am afraid, it will become a privatization choes situation like fall of Soviet Union (GNP of the country dropped by 2/3 compared to the soviet area).
I prefer a model like Chineese transition, where State is somehow there as has a role, but runs the sport like a business (eventually have to become self sufficient and profitable).

[kaz]

The biggest disease in our football is this. The fact that our clubs are not privately owned. The fact that even the biggest clubs (Perspolis + Esteghlal) have to rely on hand-outs and even THEY pay their players late, let alone all the other smaller clubs. These hand-outs from the government stifle the clubs' growth because teams with the popularity of the aforementioned clubs should be amongst the biggest and richest in Asia. They should have their own stadiums and training facilities. But because the government doesn't let go, the interests are government based. The clubs have to toe government lines and do what they want in order to get the money they need. There is also this problem where the money doesn't get to club and percentages are taken all over.

When we start having most of our clubs as private, then we are getting professional.

[maij]

There is no doubt that privatization is the only way to go in order to progress in professional football. There are many problems that is specific to Iran which might hinder such project.

To start with , I think only a handful of clubs in Iran can stand on their own feet , namely Esteghlal , Perspolis , Sepahan and perhaps Foolad or Sanat Naft.

Although this might mean huge difficulty in establishing a proper professional league , the government can supplement the treasury of the clubs in forms of loans and then let the clubs establish themselves and be independent in a few years.

The biggest problem after that , is selecting the right management of these clubs. From track record , it seems that any footballer or ex-footballer is automatically considered as an expert in football management...that is quite disturbing. Clubs need professional managers and financial experts , not ex-footballer to run their business.

[kaz]

There is no doubt that privatization is the only way to go in order to progress in professional football. There are many problems that is specific to Iran which might hinder such project.

To start with , I think only a handful of clubs in Iran can stand on their own feet , namely Esteghlal , Perspolis , Sepahan and perhaps Foolad or Sanat Naft.

Although this might mean huge difficulty in establishing a proper professional league , the government can supplement the treasury of the clubs in forms of loans and then let the clubs establish themselves and be independent in a few years.

The biggest problem after that , is selecting the right management of these clubs. From track record , it seems that any footballer or ex-footballer is automatically considered as an expert in football management...that is quite disturbing. Clubs need professional managers and financial experts , not ex-footballer to run their business.

Football is the most popular sport in Iran. Once it is privatised money will instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. Everybody loves football in Iran and it will be THE best investment the billionaires in Iran make. They advertise their city's team, put money into it and they will get it back. They already whore out Azadi with all the advertising and the government makes millions. The TV money itself will bring will be enormous. Games will actually be scheduled at times when the people CAN go - not in Government control to abuse that power. Teams from different places around Iran will actually have an incentive to challenge. And when dollars and cents are being spent, the investors will actually CARE where it goes...whereas the government doesn't care if some loose change is lost here and there because they actually get so much more than they give. When people care how money is spent, they will eliminate barriers like middle-men and charlatan agents. Right now an agent can fool a govt. official to get a certain club to buy a certain player - who is of no use - and get a good cut. A club that actually has to spend money it will NEED will also NEED a player to be of use because it NEEDS to win to MAKE more money will not get involved with such things. The same will go for other professionals - they'll need ones that will actually help them win. If they don't win, they either go bankrupt or cannot have better facilities/players/coaches and will fail and go down. The federation will make a more money and may be able to actually decently pay the referees and will be better equipped to argue/pay for friendlies. As they say in our homeland "ba pool shookhi nist". When privatized, people will actually care about success because it is the only way to survive. As it is, the government subsidises everything and where there are subsidies there is inefficiency because there is no incentive to compete to be better.

[maij]

Football is the most popular sport in Iran. Once it is privatised money will instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. Everybody loves football in Iran and it will be THE best investment the billionaires in Iran make. They advertise their city's team, put money into it and they will get it back. They already whore out Azadi with all the advertising and the government makes millions. The TV money itself will bring will be enormous. Games will actually be scheduled at times when the people CAN go - not in Government control to abuse that power. Teams from different places around Iran will actually have an incentive to challenge. And when dollars and cents are being spent, the investors will actually CARE where it goes...whereas the government doesn't care if some loose change is lost here and there because they actually get so much more than they give. When people care how money is spent, they will eliminate barriers like middle-men and charlatan agents. Right now an agent can fool a govt. official to get a certain club to buy a certain player - who is of no use - and get a good cut. A club that actually has to spend money it will NEED will also NEED a player to be of use because it NEEDS to win to MAKE more money will not get involved with such things. The same will go for other professionals - they'll need ones that will actually help them win. If they don't win, they either go bankrupt or cannot have better facilities/players/coaches and will fail and go down. The federation will make a more money and may be able to actually decently pay the referees and will be better equipped to argue/pay for friendlies. As they say in our homeland "ba pool shookhi nist". When privatized, people will actually care about success because it is the only way to survive. As it is, the government subsidises everything and where there are subsidies there is inefficiency because there is no incentive to compete to be better.

Very true , but based on track it does not seem that promising

Regardless to the expected or anticipated problems , I still firmly believe that professionalism in the true sense of the word and privatization is the only viable option for Iran's football to progress.

As for the government interference, I doubt that it (the authorities) will allow too much free hand in football organizations even when the clubs are privatized. The authorities perhaps will not have a direct saying on how the clubs are run , but it will be wishful thinking for the clubs or the league to decide the fixtures dates and timings. Religious or political events will always take priority and I doubt that any club chairman will be bold enough to deviate from "Khat 'e Imam"

On the other hand , with privatization , the government which own nearly every sport facility right now , won't be too obliged to provide those facilities at will. Nor provide logistical or security support...

Anyway, such things will always happen in Iran and a strong league management needs to be aware of the worst case scenario and be prepared for other options.

[Hajagha]

I watched the program in YOUTUBE. It was very informative.

Ajorlo pointed out the path for the progress and brought the examples. Now, the question is whether the government is ready to let one of its advertising tools go for the sake of sport or not.

[Nokhodi]

One usually doesnt' expect well thought out ideas and presentation of information from someone like Ajorloo.
He actually was a very good chairman back in the day though. He used to be Chairman of Pas Tehran and his club was probably the only club 10 years ago that had some of the facilities that any half-decent pro club would have.

[Hajagha]

One usually doesnt' expect well thought out ideas and presentation of information from someone like Ajorloo.

Very well said. We all are judgemental with different degrees. Ajorlo looks like a "shipisho hejbolahi", but he proved a very well respected manager regardless of the his look. He talks pleasntly as well.

cheers

[maij]

One usually doesnt' expect well thought out ideas and presentation of information from someone like Ajorloo.
He actually was a very good chairman back in the day though. He used to be Chairman of Pas Tehran and his club was probably the only club 10 years ago that had some of the facilities that any half-decent pro club would have.

Exactly....

I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the way Ajerloo presented his materials and his thought process.

If there is anything that came out of that program , it supported my personal belief that there Iran definately has a wealth of professionals who know what they talk about and can manage organizations in a proper modern manner. The problem will always be that any mentalities , ideas or projects that are presented , MUST be compatible with the political tendencies or policies of the Islamic republic else they and their thoughts will just disappear or never flourish.

However , I fear that "Ajerloo" class of people are in the minority and it is not entirely the government fault that the likes of Ajerloo are not prevailing. For one Ajerloo there are perhaps 9 others who are either weak , or unqualified , or corrupt or poorly educated ( some perhas have all such attributes!)

Iran needs more Ajerloos , more people who can work more and talk less. We all know by now that we are the Masters of preachng , let us see if this can be transformed into real work and progress , in football at least.

[Hajagha]

For one Ajerloo there are perhaps 9 others who are either weak , or unqualified , or corrupt or poorly educated ( some perhas have all such attributes!)

You are too generous Majid jan. How about 1 for 9999?