The spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Sports and Youth stated that the CEO of Persepolis will remain in prison for an indefinite period and must explain where he obtained 300 million tomans weekly for the club. These comments come as Hamidreza Siyasi, who entered football during Hassan Rouhani's government and was previously unknown, gained support from the Ministry of Sports to become a board member and later the CEO of Persepolis. Iranian media reported the 300 million toman accusation based on the Ministry's spokesperson's Twitter account, but the ministry's news site has not responded. Individuals such as Mohammad Royanian, Saeed Shirini, Hamidreza Siyasi, Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, and Naeem Saadavi have been reported as arrested or imprisoned. Domestic media have also released news about the summons of other prominent football figures to court and the possibility of their arrests, which have become so frequent that they no longer surprise football fans. From official media to social networks, some defend this situation as a sign of rule of law, calling for a more prominent judicial presence in football affairs. Many believe that cultural issues in Iranian football have been left unaddressed, and such arrests cannot be effective. The lack of transparency in the financial matters of some clubs and federations has not always led to arrests but has consistently raised suspicions of financial corruption surrounding the federation and clubs. The accusation of '300 million tomans weekly' against Hamidreza Siyasi is being raised for the first time, and previously only the company 'Behnam Pishrooy Kish' was introduced as the complainant against him. The manager of this company told ISNA that they had agreed to pay 30 billion tomans for one season as an exclusive sponsor but later discovered that the club had contracted with other companies as well. He stated that Siyasi gained power in the club and unilaterally terminated the contract, telling them that the contract they held was worthless. Nader Golrokhsar also mentioned that he has filed a complaint against Amirreza Khadem and Alireza Rahimi, who signed the contract. He stated that for satisfaction to be declared, Persepolis must pay back the money it received plus damages to this company. Behrouz Montaqemi, Hossein Kalani, and Hosseini have also been summoned to court to explain their trip to Spain and discussions with Real Madrid officials. They met with Amirhossein Jahanshahi in Madrid along with Hamidreza Siyasi. News of the arrest of Naeem Saadavi, coach of Foolad Khuzestan, has also been published. He played an audio file of Hamid Derakhshan negotiating inappropriately with a Foolad player on the TV program 90. Saadavi claimed he had not been arrested and was present at Foolad's training. Derakhshan's lawyer noted that Saadavi was released after being informed of the charges and posting bail. According to him, if Saadavi had not introduced a guarantor, he would have gone to prison. This occurs while Saadavi obtained permission from Adel Ferdowsipour to broadcast the desired file, and the host of the program 90 stated, 'Who cares? Just broadcast it.' In fact, if broadcasting recorded voices is illegal, it is the state television that has knowingly facilitated its dissemination. Interestingly, Derakhshan himself was willing to imprison Saadavi but requested the release of Hamidreza Siyasi at a press conference, asking judicial authorities to take a more national perspective on the issue.
Why has the stigma of arrest and imprisonment in Iranian football diminished?
The CEO of Persepolis football club, Hamidreza Siyasi, faces imprisonment and allegations of financial misconduct, specifically regarding a claim of 300 million tomans weekly for the club. This situation reflects a growing normalization of arrests in Iranian football, raising concerns about transparency and the handling of cultural issues within the sport. The ongoing legal troubles of various football figures indicate a significant shift in the landscape of Iranian football governance.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Iran's Ministry of Sports spokesperson confirms Persepolis CEO's indefinite imprisonment over financial misconduct.
- Iran's Ministry of Sports and Youth arrest Hamidreza Siyasi
- Iranian authorities summon Mohammad Royanian, Saeed Shirini, Hamidreza Siyasi, Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, Naeem Saadavi
- Nader Golrokhsar file complaint Amirreza Khadem, Alireza Rahimi
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The situation indicates a potential shift in how sports corruption is addressed in Iran.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%