Will Iran's Football prosper under the Islamic Republic?

[taremiscores]

[The]

A whole lot of charity given to IR here, The jaan

We have a huge population, so some good players slip through the cracks that have made a difference for us. I'd argue that Iranian athletes have the best genetics and athletic traditions in Asia (look at all the other sports we do well in). So we are bound to succeed in FIFA's worst confederation based on genetics and traditions alone.
Which other nation in Asia has 80 million football-loving people? Under the Shah, we were the clear best Asian team with the best infrastructure and it was not even close.

- As far as infrastructure, we are worst than war-torn Iraq - we were the best in Asia prior to 1979
- As far as grassroots, what are our grassroots program? Underfunded and only driven by the likes of Kia FC etc. who always seem to lack funds
- People can blame sanctions but IR has proxies all across Asia who they richly-funded and live freer than us (no forced hijabs in Iraq, Lebanon etc.)
- Women and men freely attended stadiums and ceremonies to celebrate Iran's mixed and diverse people (I thin fan culture is critical as well in football development)

We got to the World Cup - have we ever gone beyond the group stage? Have we won the Asian Cup since then? Have we qualified to the Olympics since IR?

The question should be: what particular IR policies/initiatives have led to football development? If you cannot name them or there are none, then the success (not really crazy success it can be argued outside FIFA rankings) of Iran's team is just a fluke and anomaly - and owed to non-government policies (I say genetics and athletic traditions).

Football under I.R is a lot like TM under Skocic. You can't really pick out anything in particular that you could say he's done correctly, but there's no denying that he's got results when needed.

Same goes I.R, there's no denying that football in Iran has prospered, even if it looks like there no proper planning involved.
Could things be better? Most likely, but that's a hypothetical. We can only go how things actually are.

[taremiscores]

Football under I.R is a lot like TM under Skocic. You can't really pick out anything in particular that you could say he's done correctly, but there's no denying that he's got results when needed.
Same goes I.R, there's no denying that football in Iran has prospered, even if it looks like there no proper planning involved.
Could things be better? Most likely, but that's a hypothetical. We can only go how things actually are.

By this definition - this can be said about every situation that has ever happened in the world ('something happened therefore everything else is hypothetical and cannot be discussed'). So we have to merely accept it.

Reality is, we can discuss many particular policies that deal with footballing infrastructure, youth/grassroots movement, IFF planning, World Cup preparation etc. But since nothing is mentioned as being successful or not (and how specific IR/IFF policies were created to deal with it), we cannot discuss it.

The fact there is no such said policies shows what a shitshow failure it all is and shows great corruption and incompetence.

[a_m]

Football under I.R is a lot like TM under Skocic. You can't really pick out anything in particular that you could say he's done correctly, but there's no denying that he's got results when needed.
Same goes I.R, there's no denying that football in Iran has prospered, even if it looks like there no proper planning involved.
Could things be better? Most likely, but that's a hypothetical. We can only go how things actually are.

With all due respect to Skocic and his knowledge,,,, he (Skocic ) does not help himself or his cause my being some passive keep silent , keep quite do not talk or give any opinion at all about the mockery that the IFF is doing ,,,, he needs to fight he needs fight for himself and his teams ,

[Ghermez Agha]

To vote yes to this you literally have to have gone very far out of your way to either not listen to our coaches (regardless of who you like) and players speak about the issues in Iran or just do not follow Iranian football. The system is and always has been the issue since 1979 non football and football related issues.

[_Navid_]

No. Like every single other sector it will not reach even 20% of its potential due to mismanagement and corruption. Whatever is achieved is due to individual hardwork or brilliance.

[somebuffguy]

Systematically? Probably not. Depends on how much they want to get along with the west. Talent wise? Maybe, unless the west decided they want to put Iran through another famine.
I'm going to vote yes. But that is also because one of my family members just sent me a box full of goodies from Iran (lavashak, mive khoshk, zereshk, zaferoon, etc) from Iran and it got here in 10 DAYS! I was staring at the box with the "IR Iran Post" printed on the box and the Iranian postal service label. Yep, it was delivered in front of my door! I still can't believe it.

[teammelli91]

Well since the invention of football Imperial Iran has only had what, 30-40 years to get decent at football? We had a good team in the 60's and 70's. We've also won all 3 of our Asian Cup titles in the 60's and 70's. Qualified to 1 World Cup (the first West Asian team to ever do it btw ) But football was also different compared to now.

i.r. will always be the thorn on Iran national football team's side. They will be the first obstacle to show up for Team Melli. Iran has earned 3rd place in the Asian Cup on four occasions. We've also qualified to the World Cup 5 times during the vermin regime.

At the same time, we don't know how things would have turned out without i.r.. We could have qualified to more World Cups and won a few Asian Cups. We would have had better infrastructure, set up necessary friendlies before key competitions, put more focus on the sport of football (despite Iran being one of the best in Asia).

I think this generation of players are capable of doing something magical. I think they can accomplish a lot despite these obstacles. But this should NOT be an excuse for the incompetent and unprofessional individuals in charge to not do their best. Iran football under i.r. is very inconsistent and disorganized.

[Rooyintan]

Some of the policies is what is hurting progress:
1) Refusal to face Israel in sports
2) Hijab
3) Boycott events due to sponsor being Alchol/Beer Brewing or Gambling companies
4) Segregation of Men and Women
5) Women not allowed in stadiums

Top of that, the biggest obstacles and challenges hurting Iran are:

1) Iranian traitors inside and outside of Iran, such as separatist groups, some political opposition groups, christian converts who fled Iran and hold a deep hatred towards Iran as a nation, those families of PS752 flight, crazy fans who seek revenge on their rival club or Iran Football Federation, dodgy and corrupt officials/agents.

2) Hypocrisy and Double Standards by FIFA, AFC, OIC, Olympic Council of Asia, various World Organisations, governments of Western countries, Organizers and sponsors of sporting events who mix politics and sports.

3) Some hostility towards Iran by foreign countries, for example in Football by Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE and Bahrain, other sports by same + Kuwait + some European countries.

[maly3648]

Why sport achievement should be again linked to "politics", what's the purpose of these kind of polls just after the cancellation of the match by Canada? To blame again Iran?

What was Iran’s ranking in the 70's what is it today? Some people here like to remind us Iran winning Asian cup before as if football in the 60 and 70 was similar to today.

First of all Iran under this government achieved amazing results in MANY sports in general, despite sanctions and all other types of problems due to obvious mismanagement or corruption.

Now, can we say than African teams or Argentina or Brazil are "less" corrupt than Iran? Obviously not, they are as corrupt if not more. Does it prevent these countries to be a achieve amazing results? Not really. Could it be better with better management? Definitely.

When you ask these questions, you should bring objective comparative datas and not emotions to make your point. The fact that some have a political problem with this government totally blind them and they're losing objectivity.

This doesn't mean that we should "support" this government, corruption or mismanagement but it means that we should stay rational, objective and less emotional when it comes to these topics.

Lots of iranians are way too politicised and are willing to link to politics everything. That's extremely toxic and should not. Iran achieved many incredible results in many fields (Olympics, mathematics, physics, nanotechnologies and lots of other sports), does it mean this government or system is "good" or "bad"? No, it means that within this government, when you have competent people in charge in a particular field and little bit means, it is possible to achieve good things because of the incredible human resources and brains we have in our country., way superior to most other countries of the world.

[taremiscores]

Why sport achievement should be again linked to "politics", what's the purpose of these kind of polls just after the cancellation of the match by Canada? To blame again Iran?
What was Iran’s ranking in the 70's what is it today? Some people here like to remind us Iran winning Asian cup before as if football in the 60 and 70 was similar to today.
First of all Iran under this government achieved amazing results in MANY sports in general, despite sanctions and all other types of problems due to obvious mismanagement or corruption.
Now, can we say than African teams or Argentina or Brazil are "less" corrupt than Iran? Obviously not, they are as corrupt if not more. Does it prevent these countries to be a achieve amazing results? Not really. Could it be better with better management? Definitely.
When you ask these questions, you should bring objective comparative datas and not emotions to make your point. The fact that some have a political problem with this government totally blind them and they're losing objectivity.
This doesn't mean that we should "support" this government, corruption or mismanagement but it means that we should stay rational, objective and less emotional when it comes to these topics.
Lots of iranians are way too politicised and are willing to link to politics everything. That's extremely toxic and should not. Iran achieved many incredible results in many fields (Olympics, mathematics, physics, nanotechnologies and lots of other sports), does it mean this government or system is "good" or "bad"? No, it means that within this government, when you have competent people in charge in a particular field and little bit means, it is possible to achieve good things because of the incredible human resources and brains we have in our country., way superior to most other countries of the world.

I actually agree with this take. Criteria is important to identify and the corresponding data is also critical.

That is why I identified a few criteria to get it going:

- Infrastructure (stadiums, development centers etc.)
- Grassroots/Youth Programs & Academies
- Competent Managers (spread throughout football)
- Participation & Accessibility (accessibility of great talent being absorbed and nurtured by the system)
- Fan Culture & General Culture (female not being allowed is a huge huge detriment)
- Privatization of clubs and profit-incentive in sports
- National Team success
- Club success

These are some criteria. It's pretty easy, at least on the surface, to go through this that the obvious answer is no - but data needs to be there. But since there is so little accountability and transparency in IR Iran, that data might be hard to get by (other data points being easy i.e. modern stadiums built in past 43 years etc.)

But someone voted "Yes" to IR helping Iranian football prosper because they got lavashak in the mail. LOL Don't expect a scientific approach to this. Sadly, sometimes with us Iranians - we have a fake Iranian pride thing going which blinds us from reality and solutions.

[bozghaleh]

When you ask these questions, you should bring objective comparative datas and not emotions to make your point. The fact that some have a political problem with this government totally blind them and they're losing objectivity.

How much more objective data do you want??? We have 43 YEARS of data all pointing the same way. And if you want recent data, don't have to look far or wide:

1) Can't schedule one friendly
2) Can't hire a decent foreign coach
3) Our last several coaches have all taken us to court
4) Lack of infrastructure and programming for youth players, coaches, referees
5) We will once again be the least prepared team in WC
6) ...

FORGET it. Yes, you're absolutely right, there still is a place in this world where they still fight imperialism, a place where the underdog is appreciated, a place where there are no terrorists (before they were called Defenders of Islam, but now let's call them Protectors of Iran, those guys who tried to bulldoze Perspolis, not us, don't look here), a place where the spiritual is infused in everyday life, a place that would bloom if ONLY the West (and their paid opposition) would let it. Oh, and data, anything you compare now to 50 years ago, more $ are behind it, lots of progress, right? Best of all, if you are from the West and have these ideas, they truly do appreciate you. Baceha, it's not too late. I encourage all of you who feel this way to go to Iran and live and work there, just 6 months, just 1 year.

[_Navid_]

But someone voted "Yes" to IR helping Iranian football prosper because they got lavashak in the mail. LOL Don't expect a scientific approach to this. Sadly, sometimes with us Iranians - we have a fake Iranian pride thing going which blinds us from reality and solutions.

That was PFDC's highlight of the year for me. Could not belive what I was reading. Shows the level of IR friendy arguements really...

[somebuffguy]

That was PFDC's highlight of the year for me. Could not belive what I was reading. Shows the level of IR friendy arguements really...

I do have to say that's overly simplistic. The point was getting mail from Iran indicating normalized relationships which would normalize Iran and help it prosper including football. If you have read any of my previous posts, you would know that I abhor the Islamic regime. But if that's the way you want to see it, go ahead.

[bozghaleh]

I do have to say that's overly simplistic. The point was getting mail from Iran indicating normalized relationships which would normalize Iran and help it prosper including football. If you have read any of my previous posts, you would know that I abhor the Islamic regime. But if that's the way you want to see it, go ahead.

I don't think the postal service delivery times correlate with anything meaningful. Yes, these have improved since the 1980's, but all other indicators have worsened.