IFF head, Ali Kaffashian: “Iran is a safe country”

Tasnim – TEHRAN, Head of Iran Football Federation (IFF) Ali Kaffashian said Saudi Arabia football officials must prove their allegations of Iran is not a safe country.

The Saudi football association has officially announced that it would not participate in international matches in Iran.

Saudi football clubs Al-Ahli FC, Al-Hilal FC, Al-Ittiyad FC and Al-Nasr FC issued statements demanding that they play Asian Championship League matches against Iranian clubs in neutral venues.

“The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has not officially requested the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to move the games away from Iran. Also, we’ve not heard anything from the AFC,” Kaffashian said.

“Iran is a safe country. We have already hosted Syria and Afghanistan matches in our country. The Saudi Arabia officials must prove that Iran is not a safe country,” he added.

“FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation rules are clear that politics has no place in football,” Kaffashian said.