AFC - Iran’s Hazfi Cup final between
Persepolis and Sepahan, which was scheduled to be held in Mashhad, Khorasan
province, on Sunday has been postponed after the province’s sports authority
refused to host the match.
Iran Pro League secretary Ali Kazemi told ISNA News Agency that a meeting of
the IPL board will be held on Sunday to determine another venue and date for
the summit clash.
Persepolis, however, requested the Iran Football Federation to host the
summit clash home-and-away instead of a one-off game and had also refused to
fly to Mashhad before the game was postponed.
Iran Physical Education Organisation, the top sports body of the country,
had also asked the Iranian federation to hold the fixture home-and-away in
Tehran and Isfahan but in vain.
Meanwhile, Persepolis’ Dutch coach Arie Haan said he would be flying back to
Holland on May 22. “Regardless of the postponement I will leave for Holland
on Monday and I have informed this to the club before,” he said.
Persepolis beat Nojan and Sepahan defeated Saba Battery in the semifinals.
The winner of this event will represent the country in the next edition of
the AFC Champions League along with Iran Pro League winners Esteghlal.
