Fariba Speaks: Inside the Turbulent Summer at Esteghlal FC
In a summer marked by significant developments for Esteghlal Football Club, the appointment of head coach Ricardo Sá Pinto was just the beginning. The subsequent selection of his Iranian assistants and, crucially, the team’s supervisor became a central drama, revealing the complex internal dynamics at one of Iran’s most prominent clubs.
Behtash Fariba, a key figure in the club’s history, has now broken his silence on the matter, providing a detailed account of the events that led to the appointment of his longtime colleague, Bijen Taheri.
The Offer That Never Came
Fariba confirmed he was a serious candidate for the supervisory role. He explained that while he had never discussed financial terms in the past due to the club’s monetary constraints, this time was different.
“Because there was no financial problem this time, I raised the matter, and it was accepted by the club’s managers,” Fariba stated. “It was agreed that they would inform me by Monday evening, and they themselves had determined the amount and were to announce it to me. Monday came, but no call was made to me. The next day, Tuesday, was Sá Pinto’s introductory ceremony, but Behtash Fariba was not invited.”
This silence, he revealed, was the message he needed. “When I saw this situation, I understood the story had taken a different shape.”
A Clash of Personalities and a Preordained Choice
Fariba suggested that his calm demeanor was seen by some officials as a potential counterbalance to Sá Pinto’s famously energetic and loud personality. However, Fariba was clear that he was not the type to change his ways for the new coach.
“I am not the kind of person who would run after Sá Pinto,” he remarked. “I don’t know how to do those things.”
The ultimate reason for his exclusion, according to Fariba, came from the coach himself. “Mr. Nazari contacted me and said that Sá Pinto had stated, ‘I will only cooperate with Bijen Taheri.'” Fariba noted that Sá Pinto reportedly requested his previous driver, translator, and even his old house, indicating a desire for continuity rather than starting anew with a different team.
Defending the Choice, Acknowledging the Error
Despite his own disappointment, Fariba strongly defended the appointed supervisor, Bijen Taheri, whom he has known for over fifty years.
“First and foremost, he is a very honest, principled, and ethical person,” Fariba asserted. “He brought Sá Pinto under good control last year.” He also revealed a key clause in Sá Pinto’s new contract, reportedly relayed to him by official Mr. Nazeri Jouybari, designed to curb the coach’s excitability: if points are lost due to off-pitch commotion, his salary would be deducted.
However, Fariba did acknowledge a misstep in Taheri’s early tenure: allowing player interviews following a damaging loss to Al-Wasl. “Upon the team’s return from the Al-Wasl game, no one should have been allowed to give interviews… The head coach is the decision-maker in these matters.”
A System of Control and Camaraderie
Concluding his remarks, Fariba presented a picture of a team now under firm and effective control. “The team is under Bijen Taheri’s control. All the players love Bijen Taheri.” He emphasized that in the current footballing environment, personal relationships and the power of camaraderie can be more crucial than pure tactics, a dynamic he believes Taheri has successfully established.
