Mehdi Taj commemorated the martyrs of the 12-day war caused by the Zionist regime’s aggression, especially the 14 martyrs from the football community, and expressed hope for a memorial event in their honor. He noted that the best feature of League One is its widespread reach, engaging the entire country. He hopes that football from the second division to the Premier League—will involve the whole nation.

He stated that football is incomparable to any other social phenomenon and added:

“FIFA predicts that the 2026 World Cup will be watched by 6 billion people. Countries are divided into two categories: those participating in the World Cup and those absent. Fortunately, Iran is among the participants.”

Taj highlighted the impact of the World Cup on domestic leagues, saying that the Premier League and Olympic team matches are affected, and there may be scheduling pressure in League One and the Premier League. He called for patience to ensure a high-quality league and expressed hope that the League Organization will prepare a productive season.

Speaking to reporters, Taj honored the memory of Mr. Mostafavi and wished health to former federation presidents who are still alive, including Mr. Dadkan, Kafashian, and Abedini. He also congratulated journalists ahead of Journalist Day, acknowledging their role in the growth of football through their critiques and suggestions.

Regarding hosting issues faced by Premier League teams in their dedicated stadiums, Taj expressed surprise that some long-time managers still expect the Ministry of Sports or the Federation to resolve stadium matters. He emphasized that over 70–80% of stadiums have already undergone necessary developments. He also mentioned discussing artificial intelligence with Mr. Baharvand and holding a meeting on league oversight.

He stressed:

“It’s not possible to both organize the league and oversee it. A separate body should monitor the matches, including refereeing and match organization.”

On the Appeals Committee’s ruling regarding Alireza Beiranvand, Taj said:

“I had promised the verdict would be announced before the league started, and fortunately it was. Although we don’t interfere in judicial decisions, the federation president and board do not have the authority to intervene in such cases. The ruling is 11 pages long, and anyone is free to take further action. What matters most is creating a calm atmosphere in Iranian football.”

Regarding the use of VAR technology in all matches of the first week of the Premier League, Taj noted:

“Previously, the government allocated 110 billion tomans, but unfortunately that money was returned to the treasury, and I don’t know why. However, Mr. Donyamali is seriously pursuing support for the federation to purchase VAR systems. Even if we had the funds, the devices are not readily available. Fortunately, the AFC helped us—though I can’t disclose details—and we managed to bring video refereeing technology to Iran.”