News ID: 266

Date: 29 May 2025 - 14:57

#President

Despite Challenges, We Must Not Stop Moving Forward

President Taj emphasized the importance of persistence and development in Iranian football despite financial and logistical difficulties, during his address at the annual general assembly of the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Football Association.

Speaking at the assembly on June 7, Taj highlighted the athletic potential of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, stating that significant progress must be made in areas such as coaching education, referee development, and tournament organization.

“There must be meaningful advancements in training, officiating, and competition management in this region. We will offer proposals to support these areas,” Taj said.

He commended the province’s contribution to the national refereeing scene, citing elite officials such as Mooud Bonyadifar, who officiated the Hazfi Cup Final and the AFC U23 Final. “Refereeing is one part of football, but we must not overlook the broader development of the sport,” he added.

Taj also noted the province’s potential in beach soccer, drawing parallels with the city of Yazd, which lacks a coastline but has produced six national team players due to the athletes’ physical attributes. “A serious initiative for beach soccer development must be launched in this province,” he said.

The FFIRI president referenced the club management reform bill led by MP Ahmad Rastineh, describing it as a transformative initiative currently being reviewed for approval. “Globally, football is financed through broadcasting rights, pitch-side advertising, merchandising, and ticket sales. Unfortunately, these revenue streams remain underutilized in Iran.”

He stressed that industrial companies are legally obligated to fulfill their social responsibilities within their home provinces, especially in the sports sector. “No production unit can direct its social responsibility budget to another province. This is mandated by law and must be implemented,” Taj affirmed.

Addressing the government directive that 1% of corporate taxes be allocated to sports, Taj added, “This is another legal obligation that can greatly benefit athletic development and also allow companies to benefit from tax exemptions.”

Discussing the federation’s financial challenges, Taj said:
“The federation bears the cost of 17 national teams, all of which operate with expenses calculated in foreign currency. We must utilize national planning and budget resources to strengthen football infrastructure.”

He also reported that 16 stadiums nationwide have already been brought up to standard, and emphasized the importance of infrastructure expansion in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.
“We are committed to solving problems and fostering the growth of football in this province. There is a clear need for stadium construction here.”