Title: AFC Disciplinary Committee Issues Rulings on Iranian Football Clubs
In a series of recent decisions, the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee has finalized rulings on several cases involving Iranian football entities, outlining both financial and sporting consequences.
Financial Penalties for National Team
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has been fined $2,250. This penalty was levied due to a delay in the entry of the Iranian U-23 national team players onto the pitch during their match against Hong Kong, which was part of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Suspension for Esteghlal Player
A significant sporting decision concerns Esteghlal FC’s Alireza Koushki. The player, who was shown a red card in the 65th minute of the team’s AFC Champions League match against Jordan’s Al-Wehdat, has been handed a three-match suspension. This ruling includes the standard one-match ban for the red card, with two additional matches added by the committee. Consequently, Koushki will be unavailable for Esteghlal’s upcoming fixtures against Al-Wehdat, Al-Wasl, and Al-Muharraq. He has also been fined $1,500.
Fines for Post-Match Protocol Breach
Further financial penalties were issued following Esteghlal’s match against the UAE’s Al-Wasl. Players Rouzbeh Cheshmi and Monir Al-Haddadi were each fined $5,000 for failing to participate in the post-match interview session. Esteghlal FC, as a club, received a separate $5,000 fine for the same incident.