Title: Political Tensions Overshadow Tehran Derby as Officials Clash Over Regional Funding
A Clash of Officials
In the heated aftermath of the Esteghlal Khuzestan vs. Esteghlal Tehran match, a war of words has erupted between club officials, shifting focus from the pitch to political and regional sensitivities. Ali Tajernia, the acting CEO of Esteghlal Tehran, publicly criticized the conditions at the Foolad Arena stadium and the conduct of some fans, calling on authorities to find a solution.
His comments were met with a sharp rebuke from Hossein Kaebi, the coach of Esteghlal Khuzestan, who warned Tajernia to remain silent on the matter. Kaebi further escalated the situation by claiming that the funds Esteghlal Tehran uses to purchase expensive foreign players “belong to the people of Khuzestan.”
Deepening the Dispute
The dispute widened when Mojtaba Faridouni, a member of Esteghlal Tehran’s board of directors, responded to Kaebi. He countered that the revenue from Khuzestan’s refineries does not belong solely to the province and urged an end to “ethnic and regional discord,” calling instead for a focus on sportsmanship.
Kaebi has now issued a fresh response, dismissing Faridouni’s remarks with contempt. “I do not respond to ignorant people,” Kaebi stated. “There is no need to answer such individuals… They are not on my level to warrant a response.” He suggested that his critics research his football career before commenting.
A Hint of Divine Intervention
The coach’s most pointed comments, however, were reserved for a former Esteghlal Tehran manager, widely understood to be Javad Nekounam, though Kaebi refrained from naming him directly. In a remarkable conclusion, Kaebi suggested that divine will played a role in Esteghlal Tehran’s recent failure to win the league championship.
“I believe it was God’s will that they did not become champions in the last one or two seasons,” Kaebi said. “If they had won, some individuals would have engaged in questionable behavior and forgotten their devotion. It was a rightful act of God to take the championship away from them at the last moment and prevent certain actions.”
This is a clear reference to the final matchday of the previous season, where despite a victory by Esteghlal Tehran, the league title was secured by their rivals, Persepolis, under Nekounam’s management. The comments have transformed a typical sports rivalry into a discourse laden with pointed accusations and profound implications.
