According to the sports reporter of Tasnim news agency, after Pikan’s defeat against Persepolis, Rashid Mazaheri said: A series of events happened before the game and the players complained about a series of things in training. I think that if we had played in Karaj, maybe the result would have been different. They could not choose Azadi Stadium. Today, our 18- and 19-year-olds played very well and I have to congratulate Hosseini for this. Not every team can play against Persepolis like this.
In response to the question whether the inconveniences were due to the choice of the stadium or something else, he said: We should skip this issue and I don’t want to name names.
The goalkeeper of Pikan football team stated about the protests of Persepolis fans towards him and that goalkeepers usually waste time in such games and throw themselves down: I personally hate to throw myself down. A goalkeeper who throws himself lowers the morale of his team. Because of my independent history, it was natural to hear these obscenities in Azadi Stadium and against Persepolis. On the one hand, this issue is sad, and on the other hand, the joys of football are in these sports, and I have no complaints about Persepolis fans.
Mazheri clarified about the Persepolis penalty scene: I didn’t see anything and I felt that it wasn’t a penalty, and during the game, in order not to let his morale down, I told the referee that his decision was correct, but what I saw was not a penalty.