Training camp in Spain it is! … Maybe!

Earlier this week I’d talked about the confusion over Team Melli’s schedule for the next three months.

Coach Ali Daei had talked about a possible training camp in Pamplona, Spain, and couple of practice matches while there. But only two days later IRIFF chief Ali Kaffashian had denied any knowledge of such arrangements. So far no good! But lo and behold there may be more clarification on this; well, kind of!

On Wednesday, IPL Chairman Azizollah Mohammadi announced today that the second half of the League will be delayed by a couple of weeks because of Team Melli’s trip to Spain! Get it?! Apparently the IPL Chair knows something about this trip as well! So that makes it 2-1 for the trip!

I have not read a statement from the IRIFF office yet, so this could all be a “misunderstanding”!

Then there was the issue regarding the friendly match with Kuwait. IRIFF contacted FIFA and they were told that Team Melli should cancel its match with Kuwait because of the sanctions imposed on Kuwait football federation.

No problem, said the IRIFF! And they quickly lined up Qatar to replace Kuwait! I know, I know, this is very uncharacteristic of IRIFF, but seems like they actually did the right thing. However, the cynical Team Melli fan that I am, I believe it when I see it!