In order to comply with the Islamic dress code which is mandatory in the Islamic Republic, Iran’s women footballers play in full tracksuits and head coverings that conceal their hair … but … Fifa’s rules for the 2012 Olympics state that:

“Players and officials shall not display political, religious, commercial or personal messages or slogans in any language or form on their playing or team kits.”

Fifa is ruling that their Islamic dress broke Fifa rules, because the players’ Islamic headscarves violate the association’s dress code. The women were banned from playing, moments before an Olympic qualifier against Jordan last week, due to their full-body kit that includes a head scarf, thus being disqualified.

via : : image : : image

When I was a teenager I played some of my most formidable years under the guidance of Afshin Ghotbi and his club AGSS. In fact, one of my teammates at AGSS was John O’Brien and Afshin helped him get his first look at Ajax.  Pete Vagenas was also a member of AGSS and Afshin was definitely an influential coach for a whole lot of soon to be successful players coming up in Los Angeles in those days.

In fact, Afshin later helped me get a look in Holland which led to a multi-year professional contract where I lined up alongside the likes of Mark van Bommel.

Since those days, Afshin has been a part of the 1998 US World Cup staff, the LA Galaxy coaching staff, South Korea National Team coaching staff, head coach of Persepolis in the Iranian league and head coach of the Iranian National Team. Now Afshin has moved on to Japanese club Shimizu S-Pulse and it’s certainly been an interesting path for Afshin as he has been a coach at the professional level with three different national teams and three professional clubs in as many countries.

As a coach who spent many years in the United States, developed plenty of young American soccer players and who understands the game both in the US and abroad, I’m interested to see if an MLS club or even the US National Team ever take a look at bringing him back to the US.

Having apprenticed under the likes of Dick Advocaat, Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek and with experience both in the US and around the world, he has to be and should be on the radar of the powers that be at both the club and national team level. Name another coach who understands the youth soccer scene in the US, the National team setup, how MLS operates and has experience coaching national teams and professional teams around the world. That list is pretty short…

Congratulations on the new gig Afshin. You’ve come an incredibly long way from those dusty fields we used to train at in Pasadena and Burbank.

Brasil are 3-0 winners against Iran in a friendly, and this new look Brasil looks very promising. The highlight today had to be Dani Alves’ ridiculous free kick. This is absolutely incredible. Enjoy.

‘I bet you recall this historical World Cup match in 98 and the power it had to unite future generations. Cool little documentary about the power that soccer can have on countries with differences.’

Thanks to Francisco for the heads up

After the VERY public political statement made with green wristbands during Iran’s 2009 World Cup Qualifier against South Korea in protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election and subsequent lifetime ban handed down for Captain Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Karimi, Hosein Ka’abi and Vahid Hashemian, FIFA has sent a letter to the Football Federation of Iran asking for clarification over news reports regarding the players return to Tehran.

Via Goal 

Six Team Melli stars sported green wristbands during the 1-1 draw in South Korea last week, a result that ended their quest for a place at South Africa 2010.

The bands marked the players’ support for Mir Hossain Mousavi, the losing candidate in Iran’s June 12 presidential elections, which saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad retain his office despite mass public protest.

A FIFA spokesperson said, “We wrote a letter to the Iranian Federation to ask for some answers and clarification regarding the press reports over what happened to some of the Iranian players following the qualifier with South Korea on June 17.”

Image via Boston 

“Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia and two other Iranian players are ‘retired’ after sporting green wristbands (as a sign of protest) in their World Cup qualifier in Seoul”

Story via TheGuardian

“Their gesture attracted worldwide comment and drew the attention of football fans to Iran’s political turmoil. Now the country’s authorities have taken revenge by imposing life bans on players who sported green wristbands in a recent World Cup match in protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disputed re-election.

According to the pro-government newspaper Iran, four players – Ali Karimi, 31, Mehdi Mahdavikia, 32, Hosein Ka’abi, 24 and Vahid Hashemian, 32 – have been “retired” from the sport after their gesture in last Wednesday’s match against South Korea in Seoul.

They were among six players who took to the field wearing wristbands in the colour of the defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, which has been adopted by demonstrators who believe the 12 June election was stolen.

Most of the players obeyed instructions to remove the armwear at half-time, but Mahdavikia wore his green captain’s armband for the entire match. The four are also said to have been banned from giving media interviews.

The fate of the other two players who wore the wristbands is unknown. None of the team members were given back their passports upon returning to Tehran after the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw – a result that ended Iran’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s tournament.”

World events spilled onto the pitch when six members of Iran’s national team, in South Korea for a World Cup Qualifier, wore green wristbands – the color used by Mr. Mousavi in his election campaign.

Story via NYTimes and YNetNews

“As we gather more information on what is happening on Wednesday in Iran, two readers point to reports that suggest some members of the Iranian national soccer team played their crucial World Cup qualifying match today in South Korea wearing green wristbands, in a show of solidarity with the opposition protests in Iran.

“Six footballers playing for Iran’s national team, including the captain, have appeared in a World Cup qualifier in Seoul, South Korea, wearing armbands in green – the colour used by Mr Mousavi in his election campaign.”

“Iranian bloggers estimated later that Ali Abadi, chairman of the Iranian Football Federation (FFI), who is close to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, had telephoned Seoul during half time and instructed the players to remove the green wristbands immediately. Some of the players, however, did not obey”

Images via YNet

“Iran and the United States have agreed on the date for two friendly soccer matches to be played between their national teams, the state-run Press TV channel reported on Sunday.”

The 100,000 seat Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran (pictured above) is the largest stadium in Asia.  Security will be important, I would think.

Story via TelevisionWashington

“The first match will be held in Tehran on 10 October and the second game in Los Angeles, California on 14 November, said Iranian Football Federation President Ali Kaffashian.

Kaffashian made the announcement after meeting his American counterpart in the Bahamas, on the sidelines of a FIFA [Fédération Internationale de Football Association] meeting.

“I hope both Iran and the U.S. qualify for the World Cup so that these two matches help them in their preparation,” Kaffashian was quoted by Press TV as saying.

The two teams last met in the 1998 World Cup, in which Iran beat the U.S. 2-1.”

Image via Flickr