Title: Why Esteghlal’s Caretaker Behzad Taheri Faces Suspension – A Two-Year-Old Incident Resurfaces
Esteghlal to Face Tractor Without Key Figures
Esteghlal will take on Tractor on August 19 without both head coach Ricardo Sá Pinto and caretaker Behzad Taheri on the bench, leaving the team understaffed against Dragan Skočić’s squad. While Taheri committed no violations during the recent Super Cup, his suspension stems from an incident two years ago.
The Incident Behind the Ban
During his tenure as caretaker of Kavir Moghavemat in the second division two years ago, Taheri entered the pitch to de-escalate tensions during a match against Niroo Zamini. However, events spiraled beyond his control, prompting the referee and match inspector to file disciplinary reports. The Disciplinary Committee subsequently handed him a one-match suspension, which was to be served in league competitions.
Now, as Esteghlal’s caretaker, Taheri must serve that suspension in their opening match of the 25th season, barring him from the bench against Tractor.
Taheri’s Limited Role in Tarbiz
Despite the ban, Taheri will travel with the team to Tabriz and is expected to participate in pre-match coordination meetings. However, he will be prohibited from sitting on the bench during the game, adding another challenge for Esteghlal in their season opener.
