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DPA - The controversy over the
head coach job of Iran's national football team continued after Ali Daei on
Monday refused to quit his job at his club for the sake of the national
team, which is a clear violation of local rules. According to Iranian
Football Federation (FFI) regulations, the national team coach should not
have two jobs, but made for the first time an exception in Daei's case.
Daei said on state television that he worked hard for his club Saipa Tehran
to become local champion last year and would not let down the team at the
Asian Champions League games later this year.
"We are living in Iran, a country which has had no FFI head (since 2006) and
no head coach for eight months? In such a country the criteria should
accordingly be different," Daei said justifying his insistence on the dual
commitment, at least until after end of the champions league games in June.
FFI President Ali Kafashian told state television that Daei was allowed to
keep his club job "as Saipa Tehran playing in the champions league was de
facto like Iran (national team) playing."
The state television charged Kafashian and the FFI with violating their own
rules, and further wondered whether the appointment of Daei instead of
favourite Iranian-American trainer Afshin Qotbi was a FFI decision or taken
from outside, referring to the sports organization affiliated to the
government.
Qotbi said earlier Monday that he would never work together with Daei, Fars
news agency reported.
"I congratulate Daei once again on his appointment as head coach and hope
that he will lead the team to the 2010 World Cup - but I would never work
with him in the national team," Fars quoted Qotbi as saying.
In a major surprise, FFI president Ali Kafashian Sunday introduced Daei as
head coach although his deputy, Mehdi Taj, had disclosed on the same day
that Qotbi would be the new national team trainer.
"I reached an agreement with Kafashian on Saturday and even said goodbye to
my players (of the club Persepolis Tehran) - but I don't know what happened
after that. For a reply, I just look at the sky," Qotbi said.
Daei, who also played in the German Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern
Munich and Hertha Berlin, has not yet appointed his assistants and there was
speculation that he would take Qotbi.
The 45-year-old Iranian-American, who has strong coaching credentials
including assistant coach of the United States and South Korea national
teams in the World Cup games 1998, 2002 and 2006, is widely regarded by
local football experts as the most qualified person to lead Iran's national
team.
The 38-year-old Daei however
has only a year's experience as coach, although in his first trainer job he
led his club Saipa Tehran to the premier league championship.
Observers say considerations other than football-related issues may have
played a role in the decision, especially as Daei was not even among the
five candidates for the post.
Daei will lead Iran in the first round of the qualification games against
Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. Iran, who have been without a
head coach since last July, started their World Cup qualification games with
a disappointing goalless draw against Syria earlier this month. The second
game will be against Kuwait later this month.
Although the FFI has promised to keep Daei until the World Cup in South
Africa, local sports media hardly believe the FFI any more after the
numerous contradictions over the employment of Portuguese Arthur Jorge,
Spaniard Javier Clemente and Qotbi, all three at least once declared
publicly as national coach.
Observers believe that if Daei failed to take the Iranian team to the second
qualification round, local pressure would force both him and the FFI
immediately to cease cooperation.
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