Iranian Premier League: VAR Controversies, Managerial Outbursts, and a Goalkeeper’s Woes
The second week of Iran's Premier League has come to a close, and the weekend's matches were anything but uneventful. From VAR controversies to fiery managerial outbursts and a goalkeeper's costly blunders, this round of fixtures showcased the intensity of Iranian football.
The week kicked off with a tense clash between Gol Gohar Sirjan and Esteghlal Khuzestan. Gol Gohar secured their first victory of the season with a 2-0 win, marking a significant turnaround from their previous defeat against Malavan. Esteghlal Khuzestan, on the other hand, struggled, with goalkeeper Hassan Pourhamidi's mistake leading to Gol Gohar’s first goal. This error did not go unnoticed, as Esteghlal's coach, Miroslav Blazevic, sharply criticized Pourhamidi, increasing the likelihood of his benching in future games. Meanwhile, former Esteghlal player Peyman Babaei made an impact as a substitute for Gol Gohar, finding the back of the net and raising hopes for his revival.
In another match, Aluminium Arak faced Nassaji Mazandaran, ending in a 1-1 draw. Despite VAR being in place, the game saw a dramatic finish with Nassaji leveling the score late in the match. Arak's fans voiced their displeasure, leading to coach Saikat Elhami skipping the post-match press conference. Elhami had previously endured a loss against Foolad, but managed to salvage a point this time. The match was also notable for the actions of Arak's supporters, who cleaned up trash from the stands—an encouraging sign for fan behavior in Iranian football.
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Persepolis clashed with Tractor Sazi in a highly anticipated match that ended in a 1-1 draw. The game featured several familiar faces from Persepolis now playing for Tractor, including Daniel Esmaeilifar and Mehdi Torabi. Persepolis’s Shoja Khalilzadeh scored against his old team but did not celebrate. Tractor's goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, managed to prevent further goals despite conceding after 3190 days against Persepolis. Controversy erupted around referee Vahid Kazemi’s decisions, especially regarding a contentious penalty and a red card for Persepolis's Soroush Rafiei. This led to Persepolis lodging a formal complaint against Kazemi.
Foolad Khuzestan's 0-0 draw with Mes Rafsanjan saw Yaya Gol Mohammadi’s debut as Foolad’s coach end in a stalemate. Despite having a more complete squad, Gol Mohammadi’s team failed to secure a win. Mes Rafsanjan's coach, Mohammad Panizadeh, criticized the extreme heat in Ahvaz, which he felt impacted the game's quality.
Zob Ahan's match against Havadar Tehran also ended in a 0-0 draw, though it was marked by controversy over a potential penalty for Zob Ahan, which was not awarded. Coach Mohammad Rabiei expressed disappointment over the condition of the pitch, and both teams continue to seek their first victories of the season.
Finally, the match between Khadarnalu Ardakan and Shams Azar Qazvin ended 1-1. Shams Azar’s goal was a point of contention, as Ardakan's coach, Saeed Akhbari, criticized the lack of VAR and the refereeing decisions that he felt unfairly favored their opponents.
This week’s matches reflect the ongoing debates surrounding officiating, VAR, and team performance in the Iranian Premier League. As the season progresses, these issues are likely to remain a focal point of discussion among fans and analysts alike.
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