Fifth Iran Pro League to kick off Sept 1

IRNA - The fifth Iran Pro League (IPL) will get underway on September 1, marking the appointment anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (S), said the Football Federation Saturday.

President of Iran's Football Federation, Mohammad Daadkan, announced the date in an IFF board of directors session attended by representatives of league teams and heads of provincial football boards.

The IFF spokesman Gholam-Hossein Zamanabadi said the federation's general assembly has been slated for July 19, during which the draw for the Pro League is held.

He added the transfer deadline is August 20.

Shifting to expansion of the 16-team IPL, the spokesman said the issue was not discussed in the session because it is not possible for the federation and the Pro League Organization to hold the 18-team league.

Zamanabadi said the country's League Cup will begin on December 1.

Foulad of southern Khuzestan Province was crowned at the fourth edition of Iran Pro League trailed by Isfahan's Zob Ahan and the two popular capital-based squads, Esteqlal and Persepolis, as the runner-up, third- and fourth-placed teams.