Vice President for Physical Education Mohammad Ali-abadi of Iran
Tehran - Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali-Abadi said on state television Monday that he would withdraw his nomination as president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) to settle the dispute with the FIFA.
Football observers in Tehran however claim that the nomination of Ali-Abadi is a legal way for both fulfilling the FIFA demands and at the same time keeping football under state control.
Iranian Vice President and Head of Physical Education Organization Mohammad Ali-Abadi met with a number of sports ministers participating in the First Conference of Sport Ministers of Asian Countries.
Vice-President Ali-Abadi said that Iran did not need a "flying coach" and warned that if Clemente did not stay in Iran his contract would be nullified.
Ali-Abadi has implied in several interviews that the interim chairman has provided FIFA with false information, blocking progress of the country's football.
Vice-President Mohammad Ali-Abadi said Saturday that although an official invitation has been extended to Ahmadinejad, there are doubts that the Iranian president would be able to attend the Olympic Games, ISNA news agency reported.
The candidacy of Ali-Abadi has infuriated FIFA, whose regulations take a strong stance against any government interference in football.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a letter to Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, has announced his nominees to four ministries, the proposed ministers of which failed to gain the required votes of confidence during the parliamentary session on August 24.
Vice President and Head of the Physical Education Organization Mohammad Ali-Abadi said that President Ahmadinejad pledged contribution of the government to two major football teams of Tehran training members for the national squad -- Piroozi and Esteglal.
Ali-Abadi said that President Ahmadinejad also called for developing public sports for different age groups and establishment of infrastructure for both public sports and championships.
Ali-Abadi said that President Ahmadinejad also called for promoting morality and sportsmanship in football and among fans of the two popular teams.
The paper, according to Reuters, said Ali-Abadi was especially outraged at soccer players.
The head of Physical Education Organization Mohammad Ali-Abadi said here Wednesday that the mottos of Iran's national football team in the World Cup would be 'Peace for all on justice and morality.