Iran could miss Palma players for Futsal Asian Cup
Iran faces the prospect of being without three instrumental players for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, starting April 17 in Thailand.
Prolific pivot Hossein Tayyebi as well as Mohsen Oladqobad and Salar Aqapour play for Spanish Primera Division club Mallorca Palma and the reigning European champion is reluctant to release the trio for the Asian flagship international event as the tournament is not part of the FIFA international calendar.
The three players were named in Iran’s provisional 25-man squad for the tournament as head coach Vahid Shamsaei is eager to dethrone defending champion Japan in Thailand.
In his first major tournament on Iran’s bench, Shamsaei led the country to the Asian Cup final two years ago, before his side suffered a 3-2 defeat against the Blue Samurai in Kuwait.
Shamsaei said last week that the Iranian federation and the Spanish team have been in talks in recent days, hoping the two sides would settle the issue in “a friendly and professional manner.”
However, the Iranian futsal great confirmed the trio will play no part in the friendly tournament in Vietnam in the buildup to the Asian Cup.
The Iranians have played an essential role in Palma’s domestic and continental campaigns this season.
Tayyebi bagged a double, taking his tally to 11 for the season, with Oladqobad also on the scoresheet as Palma defeated Cordoba 4-2 on Saturday to sit fourth in the Spanish top-flight table.
Oladqobad also scored four in three outings to help Palma win the group in the UEFA Futsal Champions League elite round last December and progress to the final tournament, starting in early May.
Chasing a record-extending 13th title, Iran will begin its Asian Cup campaign against Afghanistan on April 18 in Group D.
Shamsaei’s men will then take on Bahrain before an encounter against Kuwait on the final day of the group stage.
The top two of each four groups will head into the quarterfinals with the final showpiece set to be staged in the Bangkok Arena on April 28 – less than a week before Palma is in the Champions League last-four action against either fellow-Spanish club Barcelona or the Portuguese archrivals Benfica and Sporting.