In an interview with the sports reporter of Tasnim News Agency, Payan Rafat said about the closure of Premier League games: It is not clear with what reasoning and principles the league organization and the Football Federation closed the Premier League. What is the reason for the Iranian Premier League to be closed due to the matches of the Omid team in the Asian Games? Have other Asian countries closed their own leagues that we have done?! Football in every country grows with the league of that country, but we have closed football for a month! The league organization should support the clubs and enforce order in the Premier League, but it creates disorder. This is really strange and unbelievable!
He further pointed out: Al-Nasr team has played four games in less than two weeks, but Persepolis has played only one game in the past month and is far from the conditions of an official match. With this situation, we have to face Al Duhail, who are also in the condition of playing and their injured will also reach this game. Al Duhail has a dangerous striker like Olonga and has also recruited Coutinho. They are not stronger than Al-Nasr and they are in the fourth place in the Qatar League, but this game will be a difficult game for Persepolis, because this team is not fully in the conditions of the official game.
Rafat criticized the Football Federation regarding the contract ceiling discussion and stated: These rules are made by me and are ridiculous! Why should Iran’s representatives in the Asian Champions League have a contract ceiling? How should they compete with rich Arab and East Asian teams? Are Persepolis and Sepahan the 18th teams of the table that there is such a view about them? I believe that Persepolis is only closed for the Premier League and this team will be eliminated in the next stages even if it advances from the group stage of the Asian Champions League. How should Persepolis be successful in an unequal war?
The former forward of the Persepolis football team continued to mention the words of Alireza Biranvand in the top football program and reminded: Biranvand is the elder of the team and an experienced player, and he should not say anything in the live program and refer to the private issues of the club. He also talked about veterans and some criticisms. I don’t consider myself a veteran of Persepolis, but seniors like Ali Parveen have the right to criticize, because they are the owners of Persepolis. I think Biranund should be careful with his behavior and words.
Regarding the statements of Biranvand, who referred to the financial aid of one of the fans, he reminded: Don’t hurt that rich fan, but what kind of club is this that needs the help of a fan? If this person one day decides to help Persepolis If not, what will happen then? Should everyone in the club kill each other?! What have managers done in these years that Persepolis should need the help of a fan? What is this system that has been started and does not change? Persepolis must generate income and have its own stadium. Unfortunately, our football is not professional and this football and our league are managed like 50 years ago.