Football NOT matter anymore!!!!

[TM-Fan]

Guys, Iran has changed a lot during the recent years and the change is not limited to north of Tehran. Some of you seem to have been away from Iran for too long.

When I entered university some 15 years ago, boys and girls did not dare talking to each other for more than 1 minute at school. Now they study together, laugh and enjoy their time with each other. Some restaurants did not let young couples or mixed groups of young people to dine in. These days it is the opposite and some restaurants do not let groups of single boys or girls to enter.

These days most of the youth go to the movies, party together, have sex and enjoy their times very similar to the west. The social freedom has improved a lot. Political freedom has also improved but not as much as social freedom.

The important different thing is that the financial situation is still much lower than the western standards.

[maij]

Agha Bahram.... I seriously do not agree with you on this issue , despite the fact that I do not live in Iran.

I have absolutely all the Domestic Iranian TV channels and despite the popularity of football , you really need to pay attention to the fans who attend Wrestling , Basketball , Volleyball and even handball......There lots and lots of them.

This is about the fans , but if one want to participate , then there are every sport you can think of in Iran even odd ones like Grass skiing , cricket and rugby. The girls have also lots of freedom in participating in acceptable sports. There is one very famous lady racing driver in Iran.

There are thousand of places to spend your whole day in Tehran. Movie theaters , coffee shops , restaurants (some with live entertainment) , shopping malls , parks , swimming pools to name a few.

If you are a nature person , then Iran is a heaven and I don't think I need to say more.

I neither agree nor understand why should alcohol , discos and some of the Western entertainment that you have mentioned should be available in order for people to get entertained!!!!!

[zzgloo]

Agha Bahram.... I seriously do not agree with you on this issue , despite the fact that I do not live in Iran.

I have absolutely all the Domestic Iranian TV channels and despite the popularity of football , you really need to pay attention to the fans who attend Wrestling , Basketball , Volleyball and even handball......There lots and lots of them.

This is about the fans , but if one want to participate , then there are every sport you can think of in Iran even odd ones like Grass skiing , cricket and rugby. The girls have also lots of freedom in participating in acceptable sports. There is one very famous lady racing driver in Iran.

There are thousand of places to spend your whole day in Tehran. Movie theaters , coffee shops , restaurants (some with live entertainment) , shopping malls , parks , swimming pools to name a few.

If you are a nature person , then Iran is a heaven and I don't think I need to say more.

I neither agree nor understand why should alcohol , discos and some of the Western entertainment that you have mentioned should be available in order for people to get entertained!!!!!

majid e aziz.........
I like to understand you, as you always make sence !.....
So, may be I exadurated a little......But !
Are you saying the level of Entertainment in Iran, is like any other country ?!?
...
I agree, that there so many new enthusiasts in so many new sports !, which kind of follows the , Policy of " keeping the youth bussy with sport " for IR !
But, stateing , one is as free to do as for example the youth can in " Japan " or " South Korea " ?...is wrong !.....
Iran is even behind,where you are at, UAE !.........
I Go to Iran twice a year.....,
the streets, are all occupied with men !
The opium use,is sky rocketing !
the TV, has absolutly nothing for the youth !
The Cinema, is all propaganda, and teaching morality !
No beaches !.....No clubs !, nothing to do for the youth !.....
as matter of fact, if one appears to have fun, is suspected !
No poletical activity is allowed.....
..............
The youth suicide in Iran, may be ranking first in the world.....I knew it was on top three !............" WHY do you think is that for " ?
.............
I know,on the other hand,...so many issues are growing.......Cinema, painting, horsback riding, chess,ski,arts,etc,etc,etc.........but, 70 million poeple ,and 21st century, and nothing els to do, may have something to do with that.....But in general......our youth are being waisted !

[RaginG Inferno]

Agha Bahram.... I seriously do not agree with you on this issue , despite the fact that I do not live in Iran.

I have absolutely all the Domestic Iranian TV channels and despite the popularity of football , you really need to pay attention to the fans who attend Wrestling , Basketball , Volleyball and even handball......There lots and lots of them.

This is about the fans , but if one want to participate , then there are every sport you can think of in Iran even odd ones like Grass skiing , cricket and rugby. The girls have also lots of freedom in participating in acceptable sports. There is one very famous lady racing driver in Iran.

There are thousand of places to spend your whole day in Tehran. Movie theaters , coffee shops , restaurants (some with live entertainment) , shopping malls , parks , swimming pools to name a few.

If you are a nature person , then Iran is a heaven and I don't think I need to say more.

I neither agree nor understand why should alcohol , discos and some of the Western entertainment that you have mentioned should be available in order for people to get entertained!!!!!

Damet garm. It's ridiculous to say that the Iranian youth have nothing to do for entertainment. Truly ridiculous.

[Hadi]

Interesting thread.

I fully and without a single omission, agree with what Haji said.

I personally gave living in Iran a chance. I tried living there for close to 8 years. But as time went by, I found living in Iran almost unbearable and I wanted out. Especially in the past 2 years and especially Tehran, had turned into a hell. Sure its a damn fun place to go for some R&R after living 6 months outside Iran, but to live there is another story.

Maybe I hung out with the wrong crowd but there wasn't a SINGLE friend my age, who wasn't prepared to do anything to get out of Iran. It felt like being trapped in a cage with no way out, while you can see the beautiful world outside the cage, and you slowly develop a bad case of depression.

It is very hard to write exactly why this is. Why our young generation want out, no matter what. Maybe one day, I will try to list the reasons why I think so and the reasons behind this desperation. This desperation is so intense, than many, after escaping Iran one way or another, are disappointed with what they find outside Iran as it does not match their initial idealistic view.

Regarding football, people dont care about football because it has become soiled and dirty. After 1998, football became the focus of attention, not just by the people, but also by the government.It was like an escape from the harsh realities of Iran and it was also a way to celebrate, feel excited and look forward to the future. A small few also saw it as a chance to revolt againts the government using football. But those days are gone. Whatever the government touches, turns to shit these days (instead of gold) and people are no longer interested in wasting their time and emotion in the dirty business of Iranian football. There will always be millions who watch IPL matches, and millions who watch TM matches, buy Sport newspapers and fill the stands. But as Haji said, that emotional and overwhelming connection our people had with football and our national team, is gone.
While the same is still present, in our overseas based fans, like majority of us here.

[maij]

Bahram jan , I like to reiterate that I don't live and never lived in Iran so my viewpoints do not necessarily reflect the reality. I am merely reflecting my observations and points of view as an outsider and a visitor to Iran.

I don't even want to tread on the issue of the quality of life in Iran because it is a waste of energy. Depending on who you are talking to some Iranian youngsters think of Iran as heaven some say it is pure hell.....so , who am I to argue for or against. There are extremist views on the subject on both sides of the fence.

I merely say that there are far too many activities that a youngster can engage in and compared to people living across in the other side of the Persian Gulf , the Iranians are spoiled for choice. Social activities including Dokhtar bazi , illicit activities such as drinking, partying, dancing or gambling is also there and practiced privately. So, there are many choices besides going to football matches. It is up to the individual to decide, the choices are there.

The only thing I can say on quality of life , is that a person who is jolly and active can even enjoy himself even in prison cell like the birdman of Alcatraz , while on the other hand a miserable and a depressed guy will remain miserable , grouchy , despondent even in the heavens !!!

The other point of my disagreement with you is that I don't believe that Iranians or any nation for that matter, MUST follow or imitate western standards of culture , in order to enjoy themselves...... I serious don't believe in that.

[Doctor DOOM]

I think majid jan is referring to the more affluent class who have the money to spend in various coffee shops, grass skiing, skiing, ....etc.

But we all know not all strata of the society ( even in the richer and more modern tehran ) enjoy this kind of luxury and those workers and less fortunate guys who say they "save their money to be able to afford the tickets" are the bulk of those who go to the stadiums.

[zzgloo]

I believe, " hadi "'s post,is most valid !.....
we can, and many have, state different aspects of liveing in Iran.....,and indeed,since the country is so big, anything is theoraticly possible !....and being there for a short while,as a tourist,may also be different than liveing there........
But, here is where, we as individual, could be drawn to poletics.....
the statistics, are not irrelevant...

1-%30-%35 unemployment.
2-islamic regim,..." amere be maroof,nahi az monkar ".
3-Iran ranks secound to china ( China has 1.8 billion population ) in executions.
4-No democrecy.
5-absolute control by Mullahs,and seventh century islamic plans.
6-massive desire by the youth to leave the country.
7-almost all whom have went back to Iran,want to leave.
8-the youth has very little disposable income,if any.
9-Out side,inter national relations,are discouraged.
10-women are under out most pressure.
11-only one out of 10 high school gradualtes get to go to collage.
12-Drug use,is alarming,
13-suicide rate is among the top in Iranian youth
14-the juditial system,is against anything foreign,and against/affriad of the youth.
15-prostituation has skyrocketed, mostly to the " sick " nature of youth in Iran.
,etc,etc...............
.................................................. ................
the only thing,the regim can talerate youth to have, and the only solutions they offer for the youth, is either make them get married soon, or keep them bussy with sports !....
..............................................
the TV, shows from english league, to peruvian leagues...from german to french......,all games are broadcasted.....
we have , secound league of badmington, to the thrid league of hand ball....you name it, there is federation for it.......from ski on grass,to some sports I do not even know the names of........
But,the number one,the most valued crown of sport, is nothing but, the sport that keeps the most people bussy , FOOTBALL !!

[faraz]

apparently, football doesn't matter to those playing it either...christ, what a dreadful loss today for your nation .

i can see how the average fan would quit entirely...

[maij]

apparently, football doesn't matter to those playing it either...christ, what a dreadful loss today for your nation .

i can see how the average fan would quit entirely...

Unfortunately , that is quite accurate.

I can't figure it out ...this is the creme le' creme of Iranian football...The mighty Karimi , Bagheri , Rezaei , Nikbakht , Nouri etc ... who have accumulated 440 international games amonsgt them and scored 121 goals are humulated by Al Gharafa of Qatar !!!!!


And the sorry sate of Iranian football on all fronts continues when some fans find refuge in the performance of Ali Karimi.........!!!!!

It says a lot when people are satisfied or rave about an individual player performance in a 5-1 defeat.......!!! I am certainly at loss.

And then we ask ourselves ....Why Football is being relegated in priority amnogst the youngsters..... One reason is that fans and youngsters always look for winners and victors rather than losers.

[Nokhodi]

I believe, " hadi "'s post,is most valid !.....
we can, and many have, state different aspects of liveing in Iran.....,and indeed,since the country is so big, anything is theoraticly possible !....and being there for a short while,as a tourist,may also be different than liveing there........
But, here is where, we as individual, could be drawn to poletics.....
the statistics, are not irrelevant...
1-%30-%35 unemployment.
2-islamic regim,..." amere be maroof,nahi az monkar ".
3-Iran ranks secound to china ( China has 1.8 billion population ) in executions.
4-No democrecy.
5-absolute control by Mullahs,and seventh century islamic plans.
6-massive desire by the youth to leave the country.
7-almost all whom have went back to Iran,want to leave.
8-the youth has very little disposable income,if any.
9-Out side,inter national relations,are discouraged.
10-women are under out most pressure.
11-only one out of 10 high school gradualtes get to go to collage.
12-Drug use,is alarming,
13-suicide rate is among the top in Iranian youth
14-the juditial system,is against anything foreign,and against/affriad of the youth.
15-prostituation has skyrocketed, mostly to the " sick " nature of youth in Iran.
,etc,etc...............
.................................................. ................

Yes, politics are part of it, but then why do countries like Saudi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, ... who have worse economic or human rights situations than Iran continue to produce good teams and results, while our TM does shit?

[yashar_fasihnia]

saudi invests a lot in football...millions more than us...

african countries, they have huge number of immigrants who turn out to be footballers and its mostly them who succeed.
besides, african players have a more proven record that they can succeed in european leagues and so european scouts offer observe african players and teams more than asians.

also one more thing is that african physiques are much more athletic than iranians in general, and infact, one of the best in the world.
with that much of physical strength, stamina and confidence in them, they can compete among the best in europe and have some of the best physical conditions in the world.

infact, i personally think that if the same youth systems that prevail in europe would prevail in africa, african football would be at a higher level than european because of the biological and anatomical advantages africans have when it comes to atheletics over the rest of the world..

[zzgloo]

... who have worse economic or human rights situations than Iran continue to produce good teams and results, while our TM does shit?

No,Iran is worse by far !!!
please go back and read those 15 points...and see those countries have all at once .

[maij]

Yes, politics are part of it, but then why do countries like Saudi, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, ... who have worse economic or human rights situations than Iran continue to produce good teams and results, while our TM does shit?

Very good question.....


One thing I know for sure is that Iranians blame the GOVERNMENT for every shortcoming of the society. It is very convenient way to cover their individual incompetency or shortcoming.

Did I ever tell the story of "Behisht Gomshodeh" in Shiraz ?? A beautiful place , but full of trash and garbage left by the people who go there for picnic.

When I said "why is this beautiful place is so full of garbage and left overs ?" Everyone jumped & shouted that it is due to the government incompetency as they don't come to clean the place......When I said "How about the people themselves keep the place clean and take their trash with them when they leave ?" everybody kept quiet .....!!!!


They F*** Trash the palce themselves and they blame the government for not cleaning their trash....!!!!!!!

[Hajagha]

Thanks guys again for the input.

One more thing to clear the "blame-issue" up: I compared my obseravation with my observation 4 years ago and relatively 8-10 and 12 years back to my current visit.

Obviously nothing was new from what ZZgolo aziz listed except the people situation was much better due the price of oil.

As I mentined before, the people behaviour has many reasons in my book.

Cheers