Persepolis, Sepahan handed back points by Appeal Committee
The Appeal Committee of the Iranian Football Federation overturned a Disciplinary Committee’s ruling to deduct points from Persian Gulf Pro League clubs Persepolis and Sepahan.
Sepahan had been ducked four points, with one taken away from the Tehran Reds’ tally, earlier in the season following a complaint by several fellow Iranian top-flight sides – namely Esteghlal, Tractor, Iralco, and Paykan – over the two sides breaching the federation’s new transfer rules, which obliged the clubs to adhere to a ‘budget cap’ when spending in the preseason window and signing contract extensions with current players.
Sepahan had been convicted of wrongdoing in the contracts for Reza Asadi – the league’s joint top scorer with eight strikes – and Iranian international keeper Payam Niazmand, as well as Kaveh Rezaei, Hadi Mohammadi, and Ehsan Pahlevan.
Persepolis, meanwhile, received the punishment for paying Giorgi Gvelesiani’s taxes as part of the deal with the Georgian center-back.
the Appeal Committee still upheld the hefty fines in the initial verdict but the head of the committee Alireza Salehi said later on Tuesday that “the results and points should be decided on the football pitch to protect the integrity of the game.”
The decision moved Sepahan to the top of league table with 31 points – two clear of Esteghlal with a game in hand – while Persepolis closed the gap on its archrival to three points to stand in the third place.
Yahya Golmohammadi’s men could go level on points with the Tehran Blues should they walk away with a victory in today’s rescheduled fixture from matchday 11 against Nassaji Mazandaran at home.
Sepahan will be looking to extend the gap at the top when playing away to Golgohar Sirjan.