Ahmadinejad calls for credit to Iran's top two football clubs

DPA - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Sunday on rendering a credit to Iran's top two football clubs Esteqlal and Persepolis, the Fars news agency reported.

In a letter to his vice-president Parviz Davoudi, Ahmadinejad ordered approval of a credit amounting to 30 billion Rials (2.6 million euros) to the two popular Tehran clubs in the next cabinet session.

Esteqlal and Persepolis are the most popular clubs in Iran and have millions of supporters all across the country.

Both teams are affiliated to the governmental sports organization but have in the recent months failed to pay their players due to the government's limited financial resources.

The financial problems have also affected the two team's performance in the league. Other teams in the league have private sponsors with more financial facilities.

Ahmadinejad said in the letter that the problems of the two teams have caused anger and frustration among their numerous fans nationwide and the credit could make the fans happy again.

Ahmadinejad is football fan and used to play himself as striker and once told reporters that he also scored many goals at that time.