The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has sent a letter to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) urging the confederation to investigate any alteration of the Persian Gulf's name at sporting venues.
Vice President of the FFIRI Mehdi Taj sent the letter to the AFC just before he announced his resignation.
“The move was made after the UAE misrepresented the name 'Persian Gulf' during a match between Iran's Sepahan and the UAE's Al Ain,” Taj told IRNA.
“The Emirate television displayed various banners showing a fictitious name for the Persian Gulf during the match between Iran's Sepahan and the UAE's Al Ain,” he said.
An AFC observer said Iran's Zob Ahan and Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad had been ordered to bring down a banner reading Forever Persian Gulf.
“The AFC must take serious measures to deal with UAE actions of the sort,” Taj added. “The UAE side must be fined for showing a fictitious name for the Persian Gulf during the live broadcast of the match.”