"Security agents have recently busted a group of six correspondents who used sport journalism as a tool to extort money from footballers as well as sports clubs," Tehran's deputy prosecutor for security affairs, Hassan Haddad, announced on Saturday.
Haddad added the detainees would idolize players who were in their camp, and soil the reputation of those who opposed them and their activities.
"A number of sports clubs have even paid hefty sums to these soothers, and it has taken the intelligence service of Tehran Province nearly a-year-and-a-half to build a case against the accused," he added.
Iran's sports daily 'Goal' was the first to draw attention to the issue raising awareness against corruption in the country's sports business.
The report comes as allegations of match fixing surround Iranian football clubs. The latest of such incidents came when Esteqlal's Ali Alizadeh handled the ball in the injury time to concede a penalty against arch-rival Persepolis in the Tehran derby last month.
