During a pre-season seminar for referees ahead of the 2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League, Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), addressed several key issues:

On Referee Independence

• Taj emphasized that he has never interfered in referee appointments.
• He stated:

  “Not once have I called the Referees Committee to say who should officiate a match. Refereeing must be based on merit, not friendship or influence.”

On Fair Distribution

• Referee selection is not based on geography or quotas.
• Taj explained:

  “If Tehran has 16 million people and more qualified referees, so be it. Refereeing isn’t land distribution it’s about competence.”

On Stadium Misconduct

• One of the main causes of disorder in stadiums is refereeing mistakes, which trigger reactions from players, coaches, and fans.
• These mistakes lead to disciplinary cases and media controversies.

New Rule Against Racist Chants

• Taj announced a new regulation:

  “If a referee hears racist slogans, they are authorized to blow the whistle three times and end the match immediately.”

• This aligns with FIFA’s anti-racism protocols, and Iran has pledged full compliance.
• Taj added:

  “Once this is enforced even once, fans will stop using such chants.”

On Referee Conduct

• Referees are not allowed to give interviews. Only the Referees Committee may speak on officiating matters.
• Taj also separated match supervision from event organization to ensure transparency.