Title: Financial Dispute at Esteghlal Khuzestan Disrupts Training Ahead of Cup Match
A Recurring Challenge
Esteghlal Khuzestan Football Club is currently navigating a significant period of instability as a player strike has halted all team training. This industrial action, a protest over prolonged unpaid wages, has cast a shadow over the team’s preparations for its upcoming fixtures, including a critical Hazfi Cup match against Foolad.
Preceding the Tehran Match
The situation reached a head recently in the lead-up to the team’s match against Persepolis in Tehran. The players had refused to train, leading them to travel for the high-profile game without holding a single preparatory session, a match they ultimately lost. Just two days prior to that fixture, club CEO Kivan Babadi met with the players at their residence, presenting them with new assurances that temporarily persuaded the squad to fulfill the commitment.
Strike Resumes After Break
Following the match and a short break mandated by the FIFA day, the players were scheduled to return to training. However, with the underlying financial issues remaining unresolved, the squad has once again collectively abstained from attending practice sessions. This pattern of strike action has repeated multiple times over the last two seasons, highlighting persistent difficulties in the club’s financial management.
Focus on a Resolution
The core issue remains the players’ claim of not having received their financial dues since the start of the season. The current managerial team, led by CEO Babadi, now faces mounting pressure to find a sustainable solution to meet its obligations to its athletes. The focus is now on how and when the club’s administration will resolve this impasse to ensure the team’s stability and competitive readiness for its future engagements.