DPA - Iran's parliamentary
sports commission has asked President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to help settle a
dispute over the appointment of Javier Clemente as national team coach, ISNA
news agency reported Saturday. The commission has sent a letter to the
president urging him to clarify the status of Spanish coach Clemente's
contract and "avoid further waste of time."
The commission also voiced concern that ambiguities over Clemente would
seriously endanger the Iranian national football team's qualification for
the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Iran, the only Asian side without a head coach, began their World Cup
qualification game with a disappointing goalless draw against Syria on
February 6 in Tehran. The second game will be against Kuwait next month.
Iran's sports affairs at national level, including football, are dealt with
by the government-affiliated Sports Organization, which is run by
Ahmadinejad's deputy, Mohammad Ali-Abadi.
Despite the inked contract between Clemente and the Iranian Football
Federation (FFI), both the government's and parliament's sports authorities
are in dispute with the football federation over the coach's demand not to
stay permanently in the country, but rather visit Iran when necessary.
Vice-President Ali-Abadi said that Iran did not need a "flying coach" and
warned that if Clemente did not stay in Iran his contract would be
nullified.
According to local press reports, Clemente has however once again stressed
that a permanent stay in Iran would not be necessary. He is also said to
prefer following the Iranian football league games using videos or satellite
from Bilbao rather than live in Iran.
The FFI has reportedly set a new deadline for Monday for Clemente to accept
the Iranian conditions to stay permanently in Iran or otherwise the FFI
would look for "other options."
