Iran to elect soccer federation head

PTV – Iran has finally fixed a day to elect its soccer federation chief in an attempt to pave the way for hiring a new national team coach.

Transition Committee of the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) announced the election would certainly be held on January 9, following coordination made with FIFA.

Iran's vice-president Mohammad Aliabadi stepped down from the election after the top world soccer governing body opposed his candidacy under the reason of political meddling.

The vote was set to be held on December 6 earlier but FIFA said it would not recognize the result.

Ahead of 2010 World Cup qualifiers starting in February, Iran national team, an Asian heavyweight, is still without a coach and it is unlikely to have a boss before the new IFF head is elected.

The team, in Group Five with Syria, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, will have friendly matches against German Bundesliga club Hansa Rostock, Qatar, Mali and Costa Rica ahead of qualifiers.