FIFA presses Iran over political meddling in football body

AFP - FIFA has demanded that Iranian authorities end their alleged meddling in the country's football federation, which was taken over by a government ministry after Iran's World Cup flop.

FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren dimissed speculation that Iranian football officials had resolved their spat with the world governing body.

"Contrary to what is being being said, FIFA has not changed its stance," Herren told AFP.

Following complaints from lawmakers, Iranian federation head Mohammad Dadkan and his board were fired after last summer's World Cup in Germany, where Iran finished bottom of Group D with just one point from three games.

The federation was taken over by the Ministry of Physical Education.

FIFA rules say that national federations are meant to be run independently of domestic politics.

"We wrote to the Iranians on September 26 to reconfirm that FIFA's position has not evolved since the previous letter dated August 31," said Herren.

"The board headed by Mohammad Dadkan remains the legitimate leadership, internationally recognised by FIFA and by the Asian Football Confederation."

In July, the AFC refused to recognise the new Iranian football body.

"The deadline of November 15 for the federation to return to normal remains in force," said Herren.

He declined to speculate on possible sanctions if Iranian authorities failed to act by that date, saying that the issue would be dealt with by the "competent bodies" of FIFA and the AFC.

In a string of previous cases of alleged political interference, other country's teams were banned from international football until FIFA decided that they had fallen into line.