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IRNA - No matter the
non-Tehrani sides have developed and will represent Iran in the Asian club
events, the big
Persepolis-Esteqlal derby is something else.
Coaches and players can`t help thinking of the traditional game and the
die-hard fans ranging from children to the aged keep bragging everywhere.
Some go far and pretend they hate the opposite side`s color, keeping away
from all similar hues.
They try to prove the color of their popular team`s jersey is superior,
trotting out the cliches that "Sky is blue" or "Blood is red".
The hot rivalry may begin at home where its members have different tastes.
Weeks before the eagerly-awaited derby, the football and security officials
are exploring the ways for holding a tension-free and healthy match.
A packed 100,000-seater Azadi Stadium and sensation of millions of
passionate fans gluing to their TV sets even beyond the borders is difficult
to control.
Former and current Persepolis and Esteqlal managers and players, veteran and
young experts, referees, and mass media focus on the derby earlier, wishing
for "fair play".
The tickets are sold out within hours and the football-crazy people rush to
the stadium in early morning.
In spite of national players in their lineup, the two sides have rarely
played a crowd-pleasing game in the recent years as excitement has reached
its climax.
The fans boast about their favorite side`s top goalscorers and wins but the
red camp prides itself on having a surprising 6-0 victory over Esteqlal on
September 7, 1973.
Persepolis phenom Hossein Kalani opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, Iraj
Soleimani grabbed his double on 45 and 56 minutes, and Homayoun Behzadi
scored a hat-trick in the 50th, 86th, and 90th minutes.
Persepolis and Esteqlal started their clash on March 16, 1968, which ended
in a goalless draw and the honors were even for the two popular teams and
fans.
Out of 55 matches, Persepolis has 14 wins and Esteqlal 17 of which three
were decided by the Football Federation due to crowd invasion or the reds`
walkout as a gesture of opposition to the referee`s judgment.
The two sides have been scheduled to meet on February 2 at their 56th
rendezvous on the manicured turf of Azadi Stadium where over 100,000
boisterous flag-waving fans` skull-splitting cheers, boos, catcalls, blare
of horns, and whistles echo through the area.
A referee and two linesmen from the football-mad Turkey will judge the
derby, scotching the usual match-fixing rumor.
Although the capital`s archrivals have a cutthroat competition, they join in
flying the flag when the national prestige is the question. |
