Latest 2006
Archive
 FOOTBALL
FIFA offside
Dadekan had his chance and harmed Iranian football
Mohammad Ala
The majority of Iranians in Iran and outside of Iran are passionate about sports, especially Football (which in the US is called soccer where they do not want the US football, which is more like a handball, to be confused with International Football). In August 2006, FIFA and the AFC gave a deadline of November 15, 2006 to IFF to reinstate its elected president (Mohammad Dadekan), and to comply with the relevant provisions of the FIFA statutes. An informal polling of over 300 Iranian football fans confirmed that officials were responsible for this ban. The president of IFF can be dismissed if his performance is not satisfactory, but the rules do not allow any political power (in our case, Sazmane Tarbyat Badani) to get involved >>>
 FOOTBALL
Wrong penalty
FIFA vs Iran
Arash Mahmoudi
Soccer is not big just in Iran, its safe to say that it’s big everywhere but in the U.S. and for many countries soccer games are as important as any other national event. FIFA’s accusation about Iran may be true, but it is not an isolated event. If you look at most countries, being the in charge of the soccer federation is not the most stable job, but it has the most exposure nation wide (remember we are not talking about U.S). To be in charge of a soccer federation, you have to have very good connections and some back ground related to soccer. In fact in most countries the head if the soccer federation has very close ties with political figures and other high end people >>>
TRAVELERS
Buzkashi
Photo essay: "Goat grabbing" is the national sport of Afghanistan
Pouria Lotfi
GAME
Poker night
Photo essay: Playing poker in Albany, California
Jahanshah Javid
 WORLD CUP
Football and flags
Football has maintained a role in symbolizing the struggle to achieve the respect and recognition of others in the global community
Nasser Amin
A fascinating feature of the captivating spectacle of the recent World Cup is the way in which it illustrates that modern sport has assumed an existential and political function. The performances of national teams in such competitions occupy an imperative role in lives of millions of spectators, providing a special dignity and meaning. Great social significance is attributed to the individual spectator of the sporting event, whether he or she views directly from the stadium or from a further vantage point via mass media coverage. Football has lent a hand to the foundation of a burgeoning spectator culture. In the Western hemisphere, where community and family relationships are in turmoil, the person-to-person closeness engendered by being part of the crowd has provided a valuable surrogate companionship >>>
WORLD CUP
Kaarnaameh
Photo essay: Iranian football players' key stats in World Cup 2006
Nader Davoodi
FANS
Nothing is impossible
Photo essay: Fans at Germany v. Argentina match in World Cup 2006
Nader Davoodi
 WORLD CUP
Zidane for president
Looking back at the 2006 World Cup
Maziar Shirazi
So yeah, maybe it’s too late to talk about this, but the World Cup this year was pretty disappointing. I mean, the soccer was great, the passes, the goals, the passion in the air and all the Corona commercials and intelligent model-reporters on the Spanish channel ... I’m not ungrateful for the event, as it always makes my summer to see teams tear it up at the international level. What I’m really trying to say, I suppose, is that Iran was pretty disappointing. Iran and Tunisia. I don’t know how big Tunisia is for everyone else, but I happen to think that they are an awesome team. By the way, in case you didn’t see him play, Trabelsi is a brilliant player, as good a defender and passer as most anyone else in the past two World Cups. I bring up Tunisia because they made the same mistake that Iran made: hiring a foreign coach >>>
 WORLD CUP
Something very bad
Parham
For some 24 hours, the greatest mystery surrounded the issue of Zidane's head-butt to Materazzi's chest, which happened during the final of the World Cup yesterday, 9 june. Everybody was saying that Materazzi must have mumbled something really nasty to have pissed a gentleman like Zidane off that badly. There were all sorts of rumors coming out of the rumor mill about the incident. One that was made by the Brits and that was denied almost immediately told of a racist remark, depicting Materazzi as calling Zidane a "dirty terrorist". But as I said, that one didn't turn out to be true... The mystery has now been solved as announced on world media a few minutes ago >>> FANS
Viva Italia in San Francisco
Photo essay: Cheering for Italy in San Francisco
Mehran
 WORLD CUP
Missing TEAM genes
Faramarz Fateh
Iran team-e melli dareh, Italia va Farance ham team daran!! ey vallah. Congratulations to France and Italy! The best 2 teams played the finals and the best team overall won. As I watched the quater, semi and final games of the world cup, I realized more and more that Iran's national team didn't even deserve to be in the top 32. Compared to say France, Italy or Germany, Iran's team needs to play the street soccer leagues in the Middle East. With the likes of Saudi Arabia etc >>>
 INTEGRATION
Vive la France d’immigrés
Long live France of immigrants!
Jahanshah Rashidian
Even after the undeserved defeat against Italy, the crowd enthusiastic celebrated all the night on Champs-Élysées. The cheers, the cries, the honking of horns, the waving of French flags, the car flags all prove the country's biggest public fest. The tri-colour of French flag has now become an entire symbol, it symbolises “non au racisme”, no to racism. The victory belongs also to the French coach “le sélectionneur national”, team selector, Raymond Domenech who selected the national team based on their performance on the field. Such a proud victory is of course a political defeat for all the extreme Rights in Europe. From the National Front, in France, to the German neo-Nazi of NPD party or Ahmadinejad’s friends, they all started a dirty campaign for an all-white national team. Their followers in stadium even were mocking the origins of non-white players >>>
FANS
Azzurri
Photo essay: Italian fans in London
Parima Shahin Moghaddam
FANS
Les Bleus
Photo essay: French fans in London
Parima Shahin Moghaddam
 WORLD CUP
France is really awsome--seriously
Parissa Sohie
Four years ago, I wrote you about our sudden passion for a sport. Well, as i see it, M and I will be downright nuts every four years. The day of the Portugal-France game I was itchy to see the game, but was at work. M had already announced that he would be 'working from home'. One of my co-workers found a way of streaming the game and was wondering out loud if we should go to the conference room to watch the game. Before he could finish his thought, I had rounded up speakers and mostly set up the conference room (complete with mini pizzas) and was 'working' as we watched the game. I was jumping up and down and trash talking with the guys--who had never even seen me listen to anything related to sports. I think I impressed them (when I wasn't scaring them). France is really awsome--seriously. I'm looking forward to all of this being over so I can celebrate France's win, Zidans's retirement and return to my regularly scheduled life.
 WOMEN
Things I learned from watching football with my husband
Pillango Farfar
I don’t know how many women watch football, but definitly not the ones I know. I thought why not for once sit down and watch a football game with my husband and try to grasp what it is that he like so much about this game. I watched a couple of games with him and found out interesting things. I also ended up having some questions. Like who decides what color outfit the players wear? Who designs them? I thought maybe the chosen color had to be in harmony with where the players come from >>>
 THE BEAUTIFUL GAME
Goooooooooooal or no goal
What makes football incredibly exciting, for me
Saman Ahmadi
Watching the games as they happen is part of the experience -- in some ways sharing in a joyous event with the rest of the world. Some of my friends and I watched everything on the Spanish channel live -- even though I don’t understand a lot Spanish, I got the feel of the game with their announcers where the ones on ABC or ESPN have no idea about how to call a football game... I think one thing that people unfamiliar with football do not understand is how the game could have been interesting if the final score was 1-0, or worse yet 0-0. What they miss is the fact that a near goal is the second most exciting event in all of sports -- furious agony for some, desperate relief for others >>>
WORLD CUP
I got that Angola feeling!
Photo essay: A day in Leipzig
Sasan Seifikar
 WORLD CUP
Football dallali
What's wrong with Iranian football?
Davoud Bahrami
 WORLD CUP
Sweet, free (unachievable) dreams
Kianosh Saadati
World Cup 2006 is over for us. It was already finished for us. Long time ago, many people criticized our national team because it was not prepared enough for this tournament. But the world is not over yet! Logically, we need to sit back and try to learn from our mistakes. We need to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But I still wonder whether we will learn from mistakes or not? I assume we will be the same even in the next World Cup >>> WORLD CUP
Thank you, Germany
Photo essay: Leipzig hosts Iran-Angola match
Nader Davoodi
WORLD CUP
Fans in Frankfurt
Photo essay: On the day of Iran-Portugal match
Nader Davoodi
 KHOSHTEEP
I adore it (Mirzapour)
Email from a football fan in love
Maria Erli de Melo
'Como faço para me corresponder com o Ebrahim Mirzapour? Sou fã dele'
How I make to correspond me with the Ebrahim Mirzapour? I am fan of it. I adore it. 
 WORLD CUP
Chill out
Qumars Bolourchian
Dear Iranian fans, Chill out! It's not the end of the world. Both Mexico and Portugal are excellent teams, ranked ahead of Iran and were the favorites to win the group from the outset. This is only the 3rd time Iran has even made it into the finals. It's unrealistic and frankly unfair to expect miracles at this point in the development of Iranian football. As good as we are against Asian teams, our national team has had little experience and even less success at the world stage. For us to be upset that Iran lost today is just as rediculous as the Americans' "demand" that their team beat 3-time champion Italy >>>
WORLD CUP
I got that Angola feeling!
Photo essay: A day in Leipzig photo essay
Sasan Seifikar
WORLD CUP
Football dallali
What's wrong with Iranian football?
Davoud Bahrami
WORLD CUP
Sweet, free (unachievable) dreams
Kianosh Saadati
World Cup 2006 is over for us. It was already finished for us. Long time ago, many people criticized our national team because it was not prepared enough for this tournament. But the world is not over yet! Logically, we need to sit back and try to learn from our mistakes. We need to prepare ourselves physically and mentally for upcoming 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But I still wonder whether we will learn from mistakes or not? I assume we will be the same even in the next World Cup >>>
WORLD CUP
Thank you, Germany
Photo essay: Leipzig hosts Iran-Angola match
Nader Davoodi
WORLD CUP
Fans in Frankfurt
Photo essay: On the day of Iran-Portugal match
Nader Davoodi
WORLD CUP
Chill out
Qumars Bolourchian
Dear Iranian fans, Chill out! It's not the end of the world. Both Mexico and Portugal are excellent teams, ranked ahead of Iran and were the favorites to win the group from the outset. This is only the 3rd time Iran has even made it into the finals. It's unrealistic and frankly unfair to expect miracles at this point in the development of Iranian football. As good as we are against Asian teams, our national team has had little experience and even less success at the world stage. For us to be upset that Iran lost today is just as rediculous as the Americans' "demand" that their team beat 3-time champion Italy >>>
 WORLD CUP
I just had a brilliant idea
Parham
Having noticed that the players in this World Cup keep faking fouls to get some time off for refreshment, I'd like to propose the head of FIFA to consider setting up a long bar on each football field, complete with sexy bargirls and Bud Light advertisements, and giving the players a five minute break in each half so that they could go suck on those yellow water-containers and get to know each other better. Maybe the world will be a better place after this.
WORLD CUP
I made it to Frankfurt
Photo essay: Iran vs. Portgal
Sasan Seifikar
 WORLD CUP
All losses are not created equal
Siamak Farah-bakhshian
As the pragmatist in you says that in the world cup a loss is a loss and the table of standings only remembers numbers and not effort, I would like to quickly remind you that all losses are not created equal. The loss to Mexico left us all with a sense of disgust, a shock followed by disappointment and in many cases ending in resentment, primarily since there was a feeling that we did it to ourselves. We couldn't stop thinking what if Grandpa Daei was not playing, or what if Mirzapour for once in his life would stick to his goal, communicate with his defenders, and not mosey around the field, or what if our coach would substitute in fresher players in the second half. Anyone I know did not think we lost due to lack of talent, rather due to not using that talent properly. The loss to Portugal today was of a different nature >>>
 WORLD CUP
The fever
Here is an article for all you guys who set the alarm for 6:00 a.m. this morning!
Zohreh Khazai Ghahremani
Watching the World Cup games, I am reminded of the true definition of an old Persian proverb, “sitting ringside and shouting, ‘knock him out!’” Here I am, a retired tennis player -- the only game I competed in -- and with limited understanding of soccer, shouting at the Iran goalkeeper, “Catch the ball, you incompetent -- bee-orzeh!” Indeed, it’s so easy to sit on the sideline and let your imagination score. With Iran out of the World Cup, my “football fever” will soon subside, because to be honest, I for one watched with more interest as long as Iran had a chance. Waking up early morning on Saturdays and skipping breakfast just to watch those guys lose has taken its toll on many of us. Onward with our daily lives in “The land of the free”, some of us may even find it in our hearts to forgive those guys for this huge letdown >>>
 WORLD CUP
Let it go
It seems there are still a few among us who are determined to make the World Cup a miserable affair
Tahereh Aghdassifar
I realize that some Iranians do become a bit blinded by nationalism during these sorts of events, yes perhaps it's extreme to think we'd win the actual World Cup, but it is not outrageous to want to win one or two games! No one is being nationalistic when they are disappointed that their team lost a game, why is it that Iranians feel like they must attack each other every chance they get? Can we, please, for just this one occasion, pretend to be united? Here is an event that does not involve politics, culture, gender, ethnicity, religion or anything else Iranians use to divide themselves. Here is an event that only requires we support a group of athletes who want, probably more than we could imagine, to win a game of football >>>
WORLD CUP
A football pilgrimage
Photo essay: My adventure on the way to Nurenberg
Sasan Seifikar
 WORLD CUP
The glass is still half full
Kaveh L. Afrasiabi
Iran's loss to Mexico anguished the hearts of millions of Iranians, and I have followed with interest the huge deluge of negative commentaries on the internet and beyond about the poor performance of the Iranian team and while I agree with some of the criticisms, nonetheless I strongly think that the glass is still half full, rather than half empty, for the following reasons: First, for full seventy five minutes, Iran stood shoulder to shoulder with Mexico, which is, in fact, a semi-Brazilian team with some naturalized Brazilians on its roster. That was, quite honestly, gratifying and especially when you consider the fact that Iran played a superb first half and nearly scored during the first few minutes of the game, only to be denied by a superb dive by the Mexican goale keeper. Second, >>>
 WORLD CUP
Waiting for a miracle
Kianosh Saadati
This Saturday, the match against Portugal is the judgment day for our team. A loss or even a draw will simply toss us out of the round of 16. This Saturday we will show the world how we have learned from our mistakes and whether we have tried to correct them or not. Many fellow Iranians might be upset with those who criticize the Iranian team in Germany. But the reality is there! The fact is that we should not be waiting for a miracle if we lose or draw it is better to pack up and the match against Angola will be a formality >>>
LETTERS
Bachehaa motshakereem!
On Iran's3-1 defeat to Mexico: I just want to thank the Iranian national team for making it to the world cup, and the opportunity to watch them represent Iran. Even though they lost to Mexico 3-1, I won't let myself belittle them or their effort in any way. This is because I realize I've done NOTHING for Iranian football or Iranian players. Therefeore, I expect nothing from them in return. However they play, it's more than we deserve >>> More letters
WORLD CUP
Fan fever
Photo essay: Iranian fans in Nurenberg
Nader Davoodi
 WORLD CUP
Crushed
We are not the team we all think we are
Saied Ardakani
Well Iran lost and I have been angry and frustrated for the past couple days. We went from being extremely happy and hopeful at half time to having our dreams crushed by 12:31. If I have learned anything from that game, it is that Iranians are so nationalistic that they put everything before reality. What we Iranians have to accept is that Iran's team is actually one of the worst teams in this World Cup. We are not the soccer power we think we are, and ofcourse we can't beat teams like Mexico, Portugal, and yes, probably even Angola, when we have a hard time beating Asian teams >>>
 WORLD CUP
Oops
I'm just flat tired of getting disppointed every time our national team makes it to the World Cup
Shahriar Zahedi
"Oops they did it again." I said to myself after watching the disaster of a game the Iranians played against Mexico. Lasting for 70 minutes, they let themselves get humiliated in the last 20 minutes of the match. Mexico's second goal, which by the way, destroyed the morale of the Iranian squad, was scored in part, due to an Iranian defender's inability to stop the ball right outside of the 18-yard box. The Mexican side nimbly capitalized on the mistake and pushed the ball past the poor goalkeeper and caused the Mexican Nation to jump for joy. Good for them. This skill of stopping descending air balls under one's foot is something that succesive Iranian teams have been lacking for as long as I can remember. All other teams seem to know how to do it but not us. Our players need an area 2 meters in radius to bring air balls under control. I'm beginning to think it's something genetic and as such, can't be fixed >>>
WORLD CUP
Bravo!
Photo essay: Mexico destroys Iran
Jahanshah Javid
 WORLD CUP
The cup that ran empty
Random observations on the Iran-Mexico match
Guive Mirfendereski
When the teams exchanged greetings I realized this Iranian team is a joke. Typically, before the start of the game the captains from the two teams exchange banners or pennants. The Mexican team offered the Iranian captain a normal, regular token. The Iranian guy, on the other hand, presented to his Mexican counterpart a framed piece of Iranian tapestry -- a ghalicheh hazrat-e soleiman! Was more like it! I thought this presentation was over the top and therefore ludicrous. More offensive than this display of pos-e aly (hip appearance) was the picture of the Iranian player (No. 10) who from the time that he line up in the tunnel to the time that the teams lined up to play was holding the soccer ball in the palm of his left hand -- showing off in a manner more suited to a basketball player >>>
 WORLD CUP
I accuse: Iran sucks!
Kianosh Saadati
A few days before the World Cup kick off I wrote on this site that we do not have to be overconfident and we need to evaluate each situation very carefully. Now after this 3-1 humiliating loss to Mexico I see how much I was right... Our strikers and half-backs were really disorganised in the second half. What really happened between the two halves? Is it not time to discharge Ali Daie and send him home to enjoy the rest of his life? There are some unconfirmed reports indicating that our players had a very heavy and tight training session the night before the match. This is why they were looked so exhausted especially in the second half. Well, Branco has already been paid. He will depart from our team right after the tournament. We are the ones who have to care about ourselves. He doesn't care anymore >>> WORLD CUP
Talking at the TV
Photo essay: Thinking out loud while watching the opening World Cup match
For dAyi Hamid
Jahanshah Javid
 WORLD CUP
I've got an idea
Siamack Baniameri
Two things all diehard football fans have in common are colossal testosterone and small IQs. No other sporting event brings together a large group of jackasses like the World Cup. From British hooligans, Italian Mafia, Columbian drug lords to Brazilian gangsters, World Cup manages to bring together the idiots of the world. While 22 finely tuned athletes play the game, large numbers of drunken, out-of-shape, artery-clogged, high-school flunky wannabes (the diehards) rampage the streets, burn cars, and stab each other to death. Having said that, at the end of each World Cup match, I would like the fans to be allowed to go at it and beat the shit out of each other on the field. That would be awesome. Imagine the ratings. Wouldn't it be great to see eyes gouged, heads smashed on goal posts, kidneys rolling down the sideline and Molotov cocktails flying from one side to the other? Better yet, let's have the fans of the losing team chase the ref and behead him on the field, Taliban style. And all of it televised live to audiences around the world. Wouldn't that be great? Just an idea!
FANS
Korean Mecca
Photo essay: A place Korean football fans call home
Aram Basseri
Soccer has become much more popular in Korea since the South Korean team reached the semifinals and defeated Poland, Portugal, Spain and Italy along the way in the 2002 World Cup finals, which were co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. Last week South Korea had a warm up match with Norway in the host country, which was broadcasted in Korea at 2:00 AM. Korean soccer fans known as Red Devils gathered front of city hall and streets close to the plaza to watch the televised game. Private companies competed to secure rights to access Seoul Plaza, in order to expose their brand image to large crowds gather for live broadcasts from Germany >>>
 WORLD CUP
Do not be overconfident!
Kianosh Saadati
On Sunday June 11th, millions of Iranian inside the country and abroad will be glued to their TV sets to watch Iran's first match vs Mexico. Undoubtedly, all Iranians including me want victory for Iranian football team. But some people over exaggerate Iran's situation in World Cup 2006. Many of us even in our personal lives are so confident and optimistic about the success in future that we forget to consider our knowledge and capabilities from an realistic point of view. Iranian team is a great football team but like many other aspects of Iranian lifestyle, despite individual successes and achievements for its members, it is suffering from lack of coordination and cooperation. Simply we do not believe in each other. we do not want to accept that the Boss is Boss and every body assumes himself as his own boss! >>>
WORLD CUP
Team Melli VIP treatment
Siamack Baniameri
Every year, hundreds of European female collage students embark on a trip to Germany to participate in lucrative business of legal prostitution. A female collage student can earn up to 40,000 Euro in three months working in a brothel in any number of cities in Germany. With world Cup starting on Friday and the prospect of hundreds of horny hooligans roaming the streets, prostitution will be the number three money producer after lodging and food services... As a social experiment and for the sake of science, I would like to propose that we Iranians treat our national team to a night of VIP treatment in one of the finest German brothels just to validate my friend's theory. The worst that can happen is our boys will enter the stadium with a smile from ear to ear. What's wrong with that? >>>
 WORLD CUP
Sex, love & football
I would rather watch the Iran-Mexico match with my man rather than David Beckham in the nude
Sarvenaz
My love of football and boys grew together. I was a tomboy-- the kind mom starts getting worried about until the daughter in question begins developing boobs that declare her gender more loudly and brutally than any amount of socialization imposed by a life-time of frilly skirts and Barbie dolls. We all know that the World Cup comes around every four years. Iran has only made it to the World Cup twice or maybe trice until now (I think the first time was under the Pahlavis so it will make it trice with this one included). So this World Cup, especially the matches that Iran will play against Mexico, Portugal and Angola in Germany, is important to me both as an Iranian football fan and as the pleasure seeker who does not like to miss any occasion for merry making. Napoleon, my increasingly beloved lover, is also a football fan >>>
 WORLD CUP
The memory of World Cup '78
Kianosh Saadati
Twenty-eight years ago on days like these, almost all Iranians were extremely anxious about the first attendance of Iranian soccer (football) team in World Cup 1978 in Argentina. Although I was a grade-4 student on those days but I remember the excitement and soccer mania all over the country. A few months ahead of the revolution nothing was in the air except football. There was live broadcast of all matches on TV with professional commentators: Atta Behmanehs and Manook Khoda-Bakshian... Now after 28 years , we are not the same nation as we used to be, although Iran is in the tournament again and world cup fever is everywhere, but Iranians are not the same nation as they used to be. I have no doubt that many people including me are missing those happy days! Days which will never come back again because they have left us with devastation, uncertainty and concern about the future of Iran .But still a soccer mania nation manages to survive! A nation lost in time with an elusive memory! The memory of World Cup 1978 on its mind >>>  MAKE A DIFFERENCE
A bug invite... please bite
Larry Evans
This Invitation comes to you from the Mount Lebanon Lady Bugs Soccer Club of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. The Bugs have learned that they can do-it-all on the even playing field of sport and this healthy physical confidence has given rise to their maturing into the belief that they can strive to know-it-all on the somewhat uneven playing field of life. That is why on this Make-a-Difference Day, the Mount Lebanon Lady Bugs invite you to help them make some sense of this world by joining them in friendly sport and fundraising for a cause they became aware of during this year's World Cup -- Iranian women and girls NOT having the right to attend men's soccer games. The Bugs were surprised to learn about the female ban by Iran and they would like to peacefully confront that decision by playing a symbolic soccer game with an Iranian girls team without any restrictions on who can attend and with any charitable proceeds going to help promote girls soccer in Iran >>>
 WORLD CUP
Give them all a Mercedes
Iranian Football needs a little helping hand
Anahita Mansoori
I have just finished watching the impressive comeback of Iran from a 0-2 start to a 5-2 win in Tehran's Azadi Stadium against Bosnia and after this and the pretty okay start against Croatia in the friendlies I think I and many other Iranians worldwide are really looking forward to the real matches. This is the stuff of dreams, and echoes those brilliant teams which historically have come back from defeat like the legendary Phoenix from the flames. Here I come with a suggestion. And I hope that someone can action it somehow. As you may be aware most of Team Melli's players are based in Iranian teams and the more talented few that have been spotted (and arguably the better players) have been whisked off to European teams and (hopefully) enjoy the lifestyles and luxuries afforded by playing in high level football leagues that goes with it. I guess this could be seen as an incentive for all the players to show their skills as best they can as it's the perfect stage for self promotion in reality >>>  WORLD CUP
Dream team
Yes, indeed! Iran has all the ingredients for success in Germany
Ron Delan
Regardless of Iran's results in World Cup 2006, Team Melli is cause for celebration! We have attained a record level of progress in our soccer. However, even the most faithful, inside and outside Iran, who believes Iran has a chance to advance to second round, describes such an event as a "surprise". Most outsiders, including Scolari, Portugal's brilliant coach who has led Brazil to one of her 5 World Cup championships, do not hold much account for Iran's chances of advancement ... And this story is different. Let it be told, and make no mistake about it, Iran WILL qualify for the second round, ....and oh, by the way, don't be surprised if neither Portugal or Mexico make it past the first round! >>>
 WORLD CUP
That football video
Nema Milaninia
There's two things that bother me about Arash's new video on the Iranian football team. One, none of the portrayed "football players" are actually on the national Iranian team. I mean come on now, if you're doing a song on the Iranian football team, it might be a good thing to show their pictures. And second, how ridiculous are those Iranian flags in the picture. Imagine someone waving the American flag with the letters USA written in bold in the center of the flag or FRANCE on the French flag. Its obviously a political move to disassociate with the Iranian national flag. What’s also interesting is that it's a political move to disassociate with the former Iranian sun and lion flag. The perceived relevancy of the debate, at least amongst exiles and the Diaspora, about what is the "legitimate" Iranian flag is pretty obvious in this video given the producers and directors desire to remain "neutral" on a sensitive matter.
 STADIUM
Women can go to stadiums. Not!
Ahmadinejad needs to play women against hardliners and hardliners against women
Ali Dadpay
In the midst of the nuclear agenda, hardening the regulations regarding the veil and collecting satellite dishes from residential areas, President Ahmadinejad announced that women must be welcome in stadiums and sports events. He ordered one of his deputies to make necessary arrangements. Clergies, traditionalists and radicals alike, opposed such policies in most determine language. The most interesting part was the reaction of radical faction of Iran's Parliament (Majlis). Some of its members openly told the residents of Qom that their Fatwas are not law, and won't be obliging until becoming so. Loftier heads had been lost expressing such thoughts in the past. More surprisingly the radical faction of the house is constituted by those who are there because of the support of the same clergies they defied for one brief moment. At the end of the day, President caved in. There won't be any women in stadium for a while. Another episode in the Presidency of Dr. Ahmadinejad is over. But why? >>>
WORLD CUP
Support Iranian soccer team
Guive Mirfendereski
International sports is politic by other means. We all know that. When the Czechoslovakia hockey team beat the Soviet team one winter it was a vindication of the Czech pride, which had been so hurt and humiliated when the tanks of the Warsaw Pact rolled into Prague and overthrew Dubcek's government in the previous spring. The year the English soccer team played the Germans in the World Cup it was World War II on grass turf. Who can forget the political dimensions of the Iran-Israel or German and Netherlands soccer contests in the 1970s. Or who can forget the beating of the US team by Iran two or three World Cup games ago. I think I have made my point >>>
 SHORTS
Sure bet
Manouchehr Mehrparvar
Fresh off the press: Vegas line on payouts for the upcoming World Cup games. Example: If you bet $1,000 on Brazil and they win the World Cup, you''ll win $1,700 minus a few dollars as fees. On Iran, a $1,000 bet will result in a $36,000 minus change payout. Gooooooooooooooooooooooo Iran. Here are the odds:
Brazil: 27 to 10
England: 13 to 2
Italy: 8 to 1
Germany: 8 to 1
France: 12 to 1
Holland: 12 to 1
Australia: 22 to 1
Czech Republic: 25 to 1
Iran: 37 to 1
 SHORTS
Hello from Brazil!
Carla Fernandes
I'm a brazilian teacher. I just like to receive any informations about Iran, or email to somebody who can help me. I'm a math teacher and in the school that I work I there will be a Cultural Fair about participant countries in the World Cup. My class is responsable for Iran and we have to talk about whatever related to Iran in the areas of math, history, geography, biology, popular culture, different ethnic groups (main ones), any important peoples (scientists, philosophers, researchers) to do a good work. If it will be able to place me in contact with somebody, or to supply some source to me of research I would appreciate that. Thanks a lot.
 SHORTS
Iran barandeh misheh!
Blash
My name is Blash. I've recently finished recording a song for Team melli. the song is now the most requested on RadioJavan.com. i am trying to make this song an official football song for iran. I m just wondering if you can do a feature on me. for more info visit my site Blash.co.uk.
WORLD CUP
No rights, no sports
It's the IRI in the World Cup, not Iran
Jahanshah Rashidian
An international sport boycott of the IRI must be debated over the drastic record of human rights of the IRI, not because of the Ahmadinejad’s views. Ban of apartheid in sport was a correct means for sensibilities world opinion against that anti-human regime. The same ban can principally also be decided for the similar reasons on the anti-human IRI. Although there are some calls in Germany, demanding a ban of Iran for being a huge terrorist supporter, the German government, by chanting its virtues, has so far not taken a position on that or on the permanent violations of human rights in Iran. Regarding many similarities between the apartheid and the IRI, the German government should expressly answer the question that what the reasons are that the IRI has not been banned from the WC and why the IRI’s crimes are unnoticed.
 WOMEN
Zanaan dar varzeshgaah
Allowing women into football stadiums? Big deal!
Shadi Amin
 WOMEN
Kicking women
Photo essay: Women continue to press their right to watch football at Azadi stadium
Noushin Najafi
These pictures show the latest failed attempt by women to overcome a ban on entering Tehran's Azadi stadium to watch football matches. They were treated more viciously by the police than before. These days Iranian officials are so busy with the nuclear issue that they have forgotten about people's righs. While World Cup competitions will soon start in Germany, the mood in Iran is as depressing as a cemetery. The Iranian team will have no more training matches at home (they will play against Bosnia in Mashad, but no woman would dare try to get into the stadium in that religious city). So our efforts to gain the simple right to watch football will have to wait until after the World Cup -- if by then Iran has not been obliterated in a nuclear attack.
 FOOTBALL
They OWE us
Mahdavikia will have to play extra hard during the World Cup
Assal Badrkhani
It was a shock last week when I came upon sporting headlines accusing him of having two wives. People will look at Iranians no different than they did in 1979 as those hostages were being paraded around for 444 days. A bunch of backward radicals. And that is a slap in the face to me and so many others because we are counting on these players for more than just to put a ball in the back of the net. My generation has no other heroes. We can't look to our honarmands and we can't relate to our politicians. We just have these guys and their sport. We have no flag. We have their jerseys. We have no real representatives to this world. Only their smiling faces, their amazing dribbles, their scores, their sportsmanship.
 BACKGAMMON
Double six
More than a game
Pouya Alimagham
Backgammon, or Takhteh Nard (Battle on Wood) in Persian, is not just a game; it’s a culture, a history, and part of the Iranian identity. People all across Asia claim the game as their own and Iranians are no exception. The game has evolved throughout time and many believe that it is the oldest recorded game in history - even more ancient than chess - and despite all the churches and mosques banning it at various points throughout history, the game has survived and is more widespread now than ever before. The game is a growing phenomenon played by Iranians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Chinese, Russians and many more in cafes, hooka bars, and homes all across the world.
 SPORTS
Hole in the ice
No matter how cold, stormy or dark, Mina is always there dressed to go
Mehrdad Pishehgar
My wife Mina used to suffer from continuous and horrible pains and aches all over her body. At one time we thought that she is just imagining and these are just in her head and do not really exist. After almost a year of seeing different doctors and specialist she was diagnosed with Fibromyalgy. This is simply put a kind of rheumatism, but of course much more complicated. Nobody knows what causes it and how to cure it.
 WORLD CUP
How could any country do this to another?
Ban Iran from the World Cup?! Politics should never be allowed into a sporting event. NEVER!
Mahnaz Zardoust-Ahari
When I heard that various countries were trying to block Iran from playing in the World Cup, I first got mad, then disappointed, then just totally disgusted. My thought was Didn't they allow the Germans to play in the Olympics in World War II when they had done a lot worse then the president of Iran has? So how could they do this? Then I realized what it was all about: power and money. Politics should never be allowed into a sporting event. NEVER! We all know the players may have their nationalistic feelings but they put these aside (to a point) so they can play a game they love. They want to be on that field playing the game.
 SPORTS
Clash of civilizations
Photo essay: Germany's Bayern Munich meets Iran's Persepolis
Nader Davoodi
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