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Speaking at the annual general assembly of the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Football Association on May 29, Heydari stressed that the development of football in each province depends on its unique conditions—and many regions still lack adequate facilities.

“Twenty-two provinces in Iran have specific challenges, but they are not active at the higher levels of the national leagues,” Heydari said. “In some counties within our province, there is not even a basic football field.”

He noted that 1.5% of the Football Federation’s revenue is allocated to developing infrastructure in the provinces.
“When I began serving as the head of the provincial association, there were only six football clubs in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. Today, that number has grown to 70 active clubs,” he added.

Despite the growth in numbers, Heydari pointed out that many of these clubs face financial difficulties due to lack of sponsorship and investment.
“There are active competitions in youth categories, including U-19 Division 1 and 2, U-15 Division 4, and Division 1 senior leagues in the province. But financial constraints have become a serious barrier,” he explained.

He emphasized that industrial support could create a unique opportunity to transform the sports landscape in the region:
“If financial resources are provided and industry steps in to support provincial football, we could make significant progress, potentially even entering the national futsal premier league and the beach soccer league.”

Heydari also highlighted that while the province excels in individual sports and refereeing—with three international referees and 50 referees active in national leagues—it still needs backing to achieve similar success in team sports like football.

“With proper support, we are confident that great things can happen in football as well,” he concluded.