According to Tasnim news agency, Bijan Taheri, head of the Esteghlal football team, in an interview with the club’s media, said about the league’s new announcement: First of all, what happened in these five days that the situation suddenly changed?! What equipment was completed in these five days when spectators were allowed to enter some stadiums?! This is a clear discrimination against us.
He added: “The league organization must come up with a convincing reason for our fans to be convinced.” Why do we have to play against our rival without spectators in the first week, but this week our rivals play with their spectators? Should the league organization clarify this matter for us and our fans, what happened? We object to this issue, because it is the right of our fans and we feel that they have dreams for independence. We have seen similar actions last year and in previous years, but we are determined to succeed and we say from now on that our return match against Sepahan must be held without spectators.
In the end, the head of the Esteghlal football team pointed out: In order to ensure justice and to prove that all teams are treated equally, the league organization should hold Esteghlal’s match against Sepahan in the second half of the season without spectators so that the conditions are similar to Azadi Stadium.
