Title: Persepolis Issues Landmark Statement: A Call for Unity and Ethical Rivalry in Iranian Football
In a significant move aimed at calming recent tensions, Persepolis Football Club has released a formal statement championing sportsmanship and solidarity with its traditional rival, Esteghlal. The statement, framed in ethical and cultural terms, seeks to refocus the high-stakes Tehran derby on mutual respect and shared national identity.
A Gesture of Sportsmanship
Following a controversial public apology from Karim Bagheri directed at Esteghlal fans, Persepolis has now responded with a powerful message. The club’s official communique praised Esteghlal as a “great team” and an integral part of Iran’s football identity. It firmly stated that both clubs, standing together, would forever be representatives of “pure football.”
This overture of friendship comes after a period of heightened reactions from Esteghlal’s management. Persepolis, however, maintained its composure, deliberately choosing not to escalate the conflict and instead promoting a path of de-escalation.
Core Principles for a Healthy Rivalry
The Persepolis statement outlined several key principles intended to guide the future of Iranian football:
- Respect Above Victory: The club asserted that “no victory is worth undermining human dignity,” emphasizing that the spirit of the game must always be preserved.
- A Legacy of Honor: It recognized the historic red-and-blue rivalry as a decades-long legacy of passion and pride, but insisted it must inspire respect, not become a field for insult and tension.
- A Unified Front for Iranian Football: The statement positioned Persepolis and Esteghlal as pillars of Iran’s football identity, stating they both “fight for the joy of one nation” under the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It declared the two clubs would remain eternal ambassadors of pure football and messengers of friendship.
- A Call to the Fans: A direct appeal was made to the passionate fan bases, urging them to channel their exemplary support into a “shout of mutual respect” and to prevent the beautiful game from being tarnished by animosity.
This declaration from Persepolis extends a clear hand of partnership, leaving little doubt that if there is to be a narrative of friendship and brotherhood in Iranian football, it is to be with its traditional rival, Esteghlal. The football community now awaits Esteghlal’s official response to this call for a new chapter defined by ethical competition.