TEHRANTIMES - Persepolis coach Ali Daei criticized his players for protesting the referees during the matches.

Persepolis football team lost to Foolad 2-0 in the 2nd week of the Iran Professional League (IPL) in Ahvaz’s Ghadir Stadium on Thursday.

Persepolis players received six yellow cards and one red during the match, in which Ali Daei has criticize them.

“Our players have no right to criticize the referees. We have suffered many times since our players protested the referees. Undoubtedly with concentration, we should have performed better,” he added.

“We played good just in the first fifteen minutes of the match and were forced to defend for the rest of the game,” Daei added.

“Foolad was the better team and deserved the win. We changed our tactic in the second have but conceded the second goal. Also, Persepolis reduced to 10-man and they made it difficult for us,” Daei stated.

Persepolis drew 1-1 with Naft in the opening match of the season in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium last week.