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Persepolis Victory Against Esteghlal in Controversial Derby

Jan 27, 2026 January 27, 2026 2 min read 📰 Radio Farda
📋 Key Takeaway

Persepolis defeated Esteghlal 1-0 in a controversial Tehran derby, with Ali Alipour scoring the decisive penalty. This victory propelled Persepolis to second place in the league, while Esteghlal remained in thirteenth. The match was marred by physical confrontations and disruptions from players and fans.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Persepolis' victory in a controversial derby highlights the fierce rivalry in Iranian football and its implications for league standings.

👥 Key Players

Persepolis FC MENTIONED
Football Club
"One of the most successful and popular football clubs in Iran, representing a significant part of Iranian sports culture."
Esteghlal FC MENTIONED
Football Club
"Another leading football club in Iran, with a historic rivalry with Persepolis, making their matches highly significant in Iranian football."
Ali Alipour MENTIONED
Player for Persepolis
"Scored the winning goal and is among the league's top scorers, highlighting his importance in the team's success."
Bijan Heidari MENTIONED
Referee
"Oversaw a highly controversial match, reflecting the challenges of officiating in high-stakes games."

📰 What Happened

In a contentious Tehran derby, Persepolis defeated Esteghlal 1-0 with a penalty goal from Ali Alipour. The match was marked by physical confrontations and disruptions from both players and fans.

  • Persepolis climbed to second place in the league with 20 points.
  • Esteghlal remained in thirteenth place with only 9 points.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The match reflects the intense rivalry and passion for football in Iran, which can influence social dynamics and national sentiment.
🌍 Regional: Football is a unifying force in the region, and such matches can impact regional perceptions of Iranian culture and society.
🌐 International: Internationally, the match showcases Iran's sports culture, which can affect diplomatic and cultural relations.

📚 Background

The Tehran derby is one of the most significant football matches in Iran, drawing immense public interest and often leading to heightened emotions among fans and players.

Iranian football culture Sports and national identity in Iran
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The article provides a factual account of the match without apparent bias, focusing on key events and player performances.

The 85th Tehran derby ended with a 1-0 victory for Persepolis. Ali Alipour scored the only goal for the Reds from the penalty spot. The match was held at the packed Azadi Stadium. With this victory, Persepolis reached 20 points and climbed to second place in the table. Esteghlal remained in thirteenth place with the same 9 points they had accumulated. Persepolis has a postponed match from week eight, and if they win against Naft Abadan, they will take the top spot in the table. Currently, Pars Jam is unbeaten in first place. In this highly physical and controversial derby, players from both teams received yellow cards, including Chehimi, Bagheri, Ebrahimi, Esmaeili, Ghafouri, and Zaki-Pour from Esteghlal, along with Rabikhah, Kamyabi-Nia, and Mahini from Persepolis. In the final moments of the game, photographers at the sidelines rushed onto the field due to the throwing of firecrackers and hand grenades. Simultaneously, protesting players rushed towards the referee, causing a disruption in the match flow. Bijan Heidari officiated the game and faced multiple confrontations with players from both teams. The Esteghlal coach was constantly protesting Heidari's decisions. The Persepolis lineup included Alireza Beiranvand, Seyed Jalal Hosseini (captain), Mohammad Ansari, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Hossein Mahini, Mohsen Rabikhah, Kamal Kamyabi-Nia, Bashar Resan (Mohsen Muslim), Vahid Amiri, Godwin Mensah (Shayan Mosalih), and Ali Alipour (Siamak Namati). For Esteghlal, the lineup included Seyed Hossein Hosseini, Roozbeh Cheshmi, Khosrow Heydari (Sarvar Jafarov), Majid Hosseini, Milad Zaki-Pour, Voria Ghafouri, Omid Ebrahimi, Dariush Shojaian, Farshid Bagheri (Jaber Ansari), Farshid Esmaeili, and Ali Ghorbani (Sajad Shahbazadeh). Resan, along with Mensah and Alipour, showcased an outstanding performance while on the field, making them key players for Persepolis in securing all three points. With the goal he scored, Alipour ranked third among the league's top scorers. Together with Mensah, they ensured that the absence of the suspended Taremi was not felt.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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