Viral Outbreak in Persepolis Camp Sparks Déjà Vu Ahead of Crucial Fixture
A wave of illness has swept through the Persepolis football club, casting a shadow over the team’s preparations for their upcoming match and evoking unsettling memories of a similar incident that derailed their previous season.
A Crucial Match Amidst Uncertainty
Persepolis is scheduled to face Shams Azar in Qazvin on Azar 7, a match that represents one of the team’s first official games under new manager Osmar Vieira. However, the build-up has been marred by an unexpected development: three key players have been struck by a virus, forcing them to miss several training sessions.
The affected players—Morteza Pouraliganji, Milad Sarlak, and Farshad Ahmadzadeh—have only recently returned to training, with the club officially confirming their condition after the fact.
Echoes of a Painful Past
The current situation has triggered a palpable sense of anxiety among the team’s supporters, as it bears a striking resemblance to events from the previous season. In the final days of the last Persian year, a severe cold virus infiltrated the Persepolis camp, affecting nearly all players, technical staff, and team associates.
This outbreak preceded a critical match against the same Shams Azar team in Qazvin, a game which Persepolis subsequently lost 3-2. That defeat is widely viewed as a pivotal moment that ultimately contributed to the team missing out on the league championship and an Asian competition slot.
Heightened Concerns and Questions
The precise origin of the previous outbreak was never fully clarified by the club, leaving lingering questions. The recurrence of a similar health crisis has now intensified concerns about the team’s internal management and preventative measures.
With current training sessions being held behind closed doors and minimal information being released, there is growing apprehension that the number of affected players may be higher than officially reported. The club and its vast fanbase are now hoping that history does not repeat itself, and that the team can overcome this challenge to secure a vital victory in their forthcoming fixture.