Praise for Goudarzi and Implicit Criticism of Rouhani on the Ministry of Sports Website

The Ministry of Sports news site has reflected a report from the Kayhan newspaper that praises Mahmoud Goudarzi, Iran's Minister of Sports and Youth, while urging him to resign if interference in decision-making continues. The Ministry's website published this content on its main page without the usual disclaimer stating that the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the Ministry's opinion. Selected articles from the press that appear on the Ministry's news site endorse Goudarzi's views. Previously, Goudarzi had attributed similar accusations to his critics with a tone less harsh than that of Kayhan. Kayhan wrote: 'The prevailing brokerage in sports, by pressuring public opinion through media and conducting deceptive polls, complains to the President about the Minister of Sports being anti-Queiroz.' Polls regarding Queiroz were conducted by Program 90 on two occasions, both times resulting in a decisive vote in favor of the national team coach. Kayhan characterized Goudarzi's critics in this recent affair as a group whose presence has brought nothing but corruption to football and who desire to ruin the sport. The newspaper described Goudarzi as a revolutionary manager who is not easily deceived. It further reminded him: 'This parasitic group, which has become quite thick-skinned, will come to war with you. This faction has various media platforms, both virtual and non-virtual, wrapped in the guise of populism and scientific knowledge of modern football.' In a meeting with some veterans, Goudarzi indirectly remarked: 'I am a responsible person whose hat has no wool.' He also attributed the existence of 'yellow media' to the creation of an atmosphere that has caused his dissatisfaction. Some football writers, while confirming Goudarzi's remarks about yellow media, believe that such media is not exclusive to Goudarzi's critics. Some supporters of the Ministry have also taken over these platforms, which are sometimes state-owned. Kayhan then urged the Minister of Sports: 'Either stand firm until the end and remain faithful to your promise, or if you see that your hat has no wool and higher officials pay attention to the words of the riffraff and corrupt, then give up staying.' The author of this report warned Goudarzi: 'Those who themselves exemplify lumpenism are using influential media with brokerage, divisive, and spiteful rhetoric to ruin football and spread a lack of piety in the football realm, and they will not leave you alone.' After the national team's return from Sweden to Tehran, the federation and the national team coach announced the end of their collaboration, but suddenly the situation changed. According to some members of the Sports Faction in Parliament, the Presidential Office opposed the Ministry of Sports' decision to keep Queiroz in Iran. During those days, social media pages attributed to the President were also inundated with requests from numerous users asking him to prevent the termination of cooperation with Queiroz. Kayhan, referring to 'the cries of Oh President and Oh Queiroz,' wrote: 'The unripe are shouting. This wicked group, through victimhood, reaches out to officials higher than the President. They insult the President, claiming he is someone who, in decision-making, pays attention to the clamor of the riffraff rather than the opinions of the elites.'