According to the sports reporter of Tasnim news agency, Sohail Mehdi said about the absence of many head coaches of the Premier League teams in the consensus meeting among them: We will be happy if all the head coaches come and it is our duty to invite them. We liked the trainers to tell us our faults and to listen to their conversations. We should try to have the least defects and it is much better to have the opinions of the head coaches.
He went on to clarify: maybe the coaches who didn’t come didn’t have an opinion or they have more important work to do. These meetings help the coaches and us, and if they don’t come, it’s okay. The league organization is the home of all football players.
The head of the organizing committee of the Football League organization said about the start date of the Premier League: the start date of the league is almost finalized. The coaches gave their opinions and we will arrange the desired date with the head coach of the national team. On Tuesday we will finalize and announce the league calendar and design the draw for the matches accordingly.
Regarding the timing of the Iran Football Super Cup match, Mehdi said: Considering the coincidence of the Muharram days with the proposed date of the Premier League, we want to start the games later. We have a limit for holding games and the head coach of the national team has asked for extra time before Fifadi. The priority and the most beautiful situation is that the Super Cup is held before the league. It is very important for us to get everyone’s opinions, including the head coach of the national team, and if we cannot get his (Skocic’s) opinion, we will have to announce another date.
He said about the necessity of holding Premier League matches on weekends: If we hold matches once every seven days, the matches will be on weekends. The interval between visits is five or six days. We try to schedule the program closer to the days when more spectators come to the stadium. However, we are facing the pressure before the World Cup and we cannot hold a game every Friday. We are trying to finish the first half of the season before the World Cup.
The head of the competition committee of the league organization noted: The representatives of the clubs have made demands and we will bring all the cases to the opinion of the Secretary General of the Football Federation. He has full responsibility in this matter and we will announce the Premier League calendar if the final approval is given.
Mehdi said about the non-standard stadiums to host the Premier League: Five stadiums have not entered our competition cycle. Shahid Watani Qaimshahr stadium workers work around the clock, but this stadium may not be ready for the first two or three weeks. Yadgar Imam (RA) stadiums in Tabriz, Takhti Abadan, Shahid Bahonar stadiums in Kerman, and the late Anzali rower stadiums have also been decommissioned, and the clubs must introduce alternative stadiums.
Referring to the bad conditions of many stadiums in our country, he clarified: This issue is not our fault and we are weak in terms of infrastructure in all provinces. If you can name four stadiums in Tehran, which is our metropolis, where we can hold the Premier League, I will thank you! Arak Stadium also has minor defects such as the entrance gate, reporters and fans.
In response to the question of whether he is concerned about the conditions of the Azadi Stadium, the head of the Football League Organization’s competition committee said: The Organization for the Development and Equipping of Sports Venues is in charge of many stadiums and is the only specialized building that builds stadiums. They do the necessary tests and put the fans at ease. It is our responsibility to hold competitions and to ensure security is the responsibility of the stadium owner, which will definitely be covered.