IFF fines Rah Ahan for forgery with Naft qualifier

IRNA - Iran's Football Federation (IFF) Saturday punished Rah Ahan for forging a player's birth certificate, forcing it to play San'at Naft for promotion to Iran Pro League.

Rah Ahan, the capital's first division side, celebrated its promotion to the IPL on May 27 when it handed the already qualified Shahid Qandi a 6-1 surprising defeat.

It joined the IPL teams on nine points while popular southern side Naft did not make it although it beat Payam 3-1.

Naft collected nine points in the playoffs but did not qualify for the Pro League due to goal difference.

Rah Ahan's romp prompted Naft officials to lodge an official complaint with the federation against the promoted side for match-fixing and hiring an unauthorized player Ahmad Moqaddassipour, whose date of birth has been forged.

According to the regulations, each team can use five under-23 players.

Rah Ahan has violated the rules as the age of the 25-year-old Moqaddassipour, has been reduced in his fake birth certificate to 21.

The federation has fined Rah Ahan boss and player, banning the duo for one and two years respectively.

As a major punishment, Rah Ahan has been stripped of the IPL berth and is scheduled to array against Naft in an empty Yadegar-e Imam Stadium in Tabriz, capital of East Azarbaijan Province, on July 20.

The tough game kicks off at 5 pm.