Reported by PMOI/MEK
Iran, June 3, 2019 – Capitalizing on a football match to express public discontent, frustrated fans angry of continuous crisis in Iran ruled by the mullahs' regime, be it economic crisis, political, social and even international crisis, clashed with the repressive state security forces on Sunday night during a soccer match between two Iranian teams, Persepolis (of Tehran) and Damash (of Gilan, northern Iran) held in the Foulad Stadium of Ahvaz, southwest Iran.
The state-run ISNA news agency said angry fans confronted the police raid by throwing rocks and chairs into the field.
“The fans expressed their protesters by throwing rocks and chairs into the field. One member of the security forces suffered a broken head from a hurled rock,” the report indicated.
The match began after a two and a half hour delay. Saeid Fattahi, head of the League Organization Match Committee, acknowledged the very tense atmosphere inside the stadium. Authorities were no longer able to control the football fans, he admitted.
The cup final match was held in such a disastrous atmosphere that Iranians were very vocal in expressing their thoughts and criticism on social media.
- “Incompetence has become the country’s most important crisis. This is a challenge wherever we look. Officials who are old, having no clue what they’re doing and corrupt in many cases.”
- “The incompetence tsunami and mismanagement becomes more and more vivid. After the recent floods, the currency crisis, companies failing to deliver purchased vehicles and now football!”
- “Our football has many mismanagement tragedies. From very obscure contracts to ridiculous issues about not allowing women into sports stadiums.”
- “You remember the recent Golestan floods (northern Iran)? If proper action was taken against the incompetent officials involved there, we wouldn’t be witnessing such a crisis in football today.”
- “A tired team of officials have turned football into our weakness and the media is running its headlines against us claiming, ‘Iran cannot even hold a football match.’”
- “The PerspolisDamash match is an example of many events taking place these days across the country. Poor management are driving people crazy and this in itself is the largest of all crises.”
Repressive police present in the Foulad Stadium of Ahvaz, southwest Iran – June 2, 2019