Widespread Corruption in Iranian Football; Afsharian Reveals at Least 15 Cases of Match-Fixing in the Premier League and League One

The Jam Jam newspaper, affiliated with the Islamic Republic's broadcasting organization, revealed on Sunday shocking confessions from Khodadad Afsharian, the former head of the referees committee of the Football Federation, regarding widespread corruption in Iranian football. Afsharian, who is currently in custody, has confessed to at least 15 cases of match-fixing in the Premier League and League One, and has reported the involvement of some referees and assistant referees in determining the outcomes of matches. According to informed sources, these referees will soon be summoned to court to respond to their allegations. Iran Sports also cited Jam Jam, revealing more details about these confessions. According to this report, Afsharian named several referees and assistant referees from the Premier League as colluding agents and admitted that these fixings have disrupted the standings of the Premier League and League One in recent years. The extent of corruption in Iranian football is such that Kiomars Hashemi, the Minister of Sports, officially announced on Thursday that the new season of the Premier League will definitely be held with VAR (Video Assistant Referee). However, government and judicial officials believe that the use of VAR alone is not sufficient and that decisive action must also be taken against corrupt and bribed elements within the refereeing system. Jam Jam, citing an informed source, reported on the widespread corruption in football clubs and the involvement of managers, coaches, and referees in collusion and influencing match results. This informed source warned that if all offenders are dealt with, many individuals will be sidelined from Iranian football. These revelations come as Fariborz Mahmoudzadeh, the current head of League One and the special affairs deputy of Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation, was also arrested yesterday. The former head of the referees committee of the Islamic Republic's Football Federation was arrested in connection with a financial corruption case on charges of receiving 'bribes.' According to ISNA news agency on Wednesday, Khodadad Afsharian was arrested in relation to the case of 'bribes paid by the Mes Rafsanjan club to some football managers.' In addition to the arrest of Khodadad Afsharian, five other suspects related to this case have been summoned to court. ISNA reported, citing 'an informed source,' that 'Khodadad Afsharian has been sent to prison in relation to this case.' In late Ordibehesht, shortly after reports emerged about a new case of systemic corruption in Iranian football and the summons of two federation managers and a sports media editor to court, dismissals began within the Football Federation, with the dismissal of Khodadad Afsharian, the controversial head of the referees committee, being one of these cases. After his dismissal, Khodadad Afsharian provided a text titled 'resignation letter' to the media, claiming that he had stepped down 'to prevent further controversies'; an action that some football experts in Iran considered to be 'at the behest of judicial and federation officials' or for 'self-defense.' Khodadad Afsharian had previously made headlines for other violations, including altering his son's birth certificate for age-related issues.