No return for Ali Karimi, Persepolis coach says

TEHRAN TIMES – TEHRAN, Persepolis coach Manuel Jose insisted on Wednesday that there is no place for Ali Karimi on the team.

Karimi was left out of the Persepolis football team for the Sepahan clash, where the Reds lost 2-0 in Isfahan.

Persepolis will play Aluminum of Hormozgan on Thursday and the Portuguese coach will not allow the veteran to play.

“I am responsible for this decision. Karimi cannot play until I’m here. I am not going to talk about that. I will not change my mind,” Jose added.

Talking about dizziness and the poisoning of some of the Persepolis players during the second half of the match against Sepahan in Isfahan, he said, “Some of our players fainted in the dressing room. There is no excuse but our match against Aluminum must be postponed.”

Persepolis is 15th in the standings table of the Iran Professional League.