Controversy erupts as Iranian trio named for Asian club competitions
The Iranian Football Federation’s decision to name three clubs as the country’s Asian club representatives for next season has frustrated title rivals in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Esteghlal, Sepahan, and Tractor were selected as continental competitors after the League Organization of the national governing body announced on Saturday that the remaining eight rounds of the domestic top flight – postponed since February 28, when the United States and Israel initiated a military campaign against Iran – will be staged after “the conclusion of the national team’s games at the FIFA World Cup (June 11–July 19).”
With the Asian Football Confederation setting May 31 as the deadline for confirming the 2026/27 continental club lineup, the Iranian federation, according to the League Organization’s Saturday announcement, was left with no choice but to put forward the league’s current top three for the two tournaments.
Sitting atop the table with 41 points from 22 games, Esteghlal has been given a place in the West zone’s 12-team table of the AFC Champions League Elite, while Tractor – second on 39 points – will have the chance to secure a spot through the preliminary playoffs.
Third-placed Sepahan, trailing Tractor on goal difference, will be Iran’s representative in the AFC Champions League Two.
“The result must be decided on the pitch,” Golgohar head coach Mahdi Tartar, whose team is fourth in the table with 36 points from 23 matches, said on Monday.
“We played away to Tractor one day before the start of the war and lost. That’s fine – football has its wins and losses. But what matters is that the result is determined on the field and the standings are decided through football,” added the Iranian coach.
Tartar, whose Golgohar side remains within striking distance of the top three, continued: “We are fourth in the table and still a title contender. We managed to beat the league leaders and also had decent results against Persepolis and Sepahan.”
Persepolis CEO Peyman Haddadi, meanwhile, described the decision as “unfair,” insisting that “the league continue and that Iran’s representatives be selected based on a full footballing process and on actual matches.”
“We have also put forward transparent and fair proposals to ensure that, if it becomes impossible to complete the league, Iranian clubs in Asian competitions are chosen according to a just and equitable solution,” added the Tehran Reds’ official.
A seven-time champion over the past nine seasons, Persepolis sits sixth in the table – seven points off the top – but recent league history favors the Reds as the capital heavyweight has relied on late surges in the closing stages to secure multiple title-winning campaigns over the past decade.