Who is Iran’s football boss?

Is it me or having the Vice President of a country actively seeking the highest football office in the land, while he is holding on to his vice presidency and other responsibilities, is something peculiar let alone in direct conflict with FIFA’s apolitical football requirement.

That is precisely what is happening in Iran right now. Mohammad Aliabadi, Iran president’s deputy, who also happens to be the man in charge of all matters concerning sports in the country, has been actively seeking the top football job in the country.

He nominated himself for the job and was expected to win in a landslide on October 15, but after many of the nominees withdrew their nominations, the interim football governing body, which is endorsed by AFC and FIFA to oversee all Iranian football matters including the elections, had to postpone the process.

So the entire process had to be repeated, but strangely many of the former nominees did not reapply this time. A number of them acknowledged that they withdrew after they spoke with Mr. Aliabadi, some in person some on the phone.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, FIFA announced that it suspended Kuwait from all international matches because of governmental interference in the national game. Kuwait had held elections for key posts in the country’s football federation on Oct. 9 but FIFA and AFC refused to recognize the polls. Mr. Aliabadi, who earlier this month claimed that he could fix all of Iran’s football problems with only 20% of his office time, may want to take note of that situation.

Meanwhile, Team Melli does not have a Head Coach. The interim committee met earlier in the week and announced that they would be looking abroad for a suitable coach; Western European coaches were preferred, the media was told.

The first World Cup 2010 qualifier is looming in the horizon and Team Melli has not had a match since July 22, 2007 when they were eliminated from the Asian Nations Cup by Korea Republic in a penalty shootout. Many key players are long past their prime and a few others who play abroad are not getting any playing time. If the lessons of the past are any indication, Iranian football fans are guaranteed to have another frustrating World Cup campaign ahead of them.