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Asia Feature: Ali Karimi's Club Discharge - When Religion And Politics Mix In Football
Ali Karimi’s name was echoed through Asian headlines last week for being expelled from his club in Iran for refusing to fast during Ramadan. Niloufar Momeni digs into the real story behind the shocking move by Steel Azin FC.
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Aug 25, 2010 8:06:00 AM
By Niloufar Momeni
Usually when the Muslims’ fasting month begins each year, there is no fixture schedule or fitness training change for footballers in Europe and elsewhere. No matter how grinding it may be for team managers to witness their fatigue fasting player’s game during Ramadan, as it was for Jose Mourinho regarding Sulley Muntari at Inter, both sides try to cope with the player’s personal beliefs.
That was the case in a country like Iran up until recently, with the exception that game schedules would be held after sunset. Although mandatory for all Muslims, fasting was never enforced on players by Iran Pro League club officials.
But it seems as though Iranian club officials have gone to extremes this season as Steel Azin expelled their top scorer, Ali Karimi, for refusing to fast. After all it is a purely personal belief that is not practiced by majority of Iranian footballers, including 95 per cent of his team-mates, as indicated by former and current Iranian footballers. So why did Ali Karimi get boot among all others? Is there another reason for his club sacking?
There is.
Last week, prior to Steel Azin's match with Esteghlal and during team training, Ali Karimi had reportedly criticized Iran Pro League code of ethics committee; a newly formed organization, ironically led by a cleric figure, that oversees league players’ ethical and religious practices on and off the pitch. Shortly after, sport newspapers in Iran covered the story including a dispute between Ali Karimi and the club manager for drinking during fasting hours of the training.
In the news coverage, the Iran national team’s third best goal scorer was also labeled as “the controversial player who wore a Green wristband in a World Cup qualifier in support of Iran Green movement protests against fraudulent Presidental Election.” Soon after the incident, in a backlash, Ali Karimi, Steel Azin’s attacking midfielder was ordered to play in an unusual position as defender against Esteghlal.
Shockingly a day after, in a sudden press release by club officials, Ali Karimi was expelled from the club citing his refusal to fast as the reason for this decision.
The Tehran club manager’s explanation of his widely criticized move in Iran television broadcasting is even more disturbing; constantly referring to himself as “A revolutionary military commander with enough power, will and strong religious beliefs,” he explained “I did not only take charge of the club for football management but for my personal religious and ethical values. Also Ali Karimi’s charge is for acting against IFF’s regulation during Ramadan period, for drinking during training.”
Putting the puzzle together and considering the club manager’s political background, Ali Karimi shedding light on the flawed structure of lucrative Steel Azin and criticizing the club manager seems to be the reason for his dismissal. Refusal to fast may just be a religious cover for Ajorloo’s intolerance of criticism.
The whole story unfolding in less than 48 hours created enough buzz in the country, that former head of Iran football federation, a former Steel Azin coach and current Steel Azin players in united stance expressed their support for the popular Iranian midfielder, slamming Ajorloo’s political decision and creating enough noise outside the country to initiate a global petition to FIFA to oversee this incident.
While the Asian Football Confederation with a mandate by FIFA has aimed for a more harmonious modern football throughout Asia, with independent football clubs urged to run healthy business models and cohesive marketing to satisfy their fans’ expectations, it is utterly disappointing to see religion and politics still affects the very basic management decisions at Iranian clubs, to the extent of forming an ethical religious organization led by a cleric who monitors all Iranian footballers’ moves to punish them accordingly.
Many IPL clubs’ management are held by key militant revolutionary guards of the government, including Steel Azin’s who have enough power to put an end to a prolific player’s club career for disobedience of an Islamic law or criticism of the politics of Iranian football. The question is: how is the AFC going to modernize Asian football if all these recurring incidents are overlooked in member countries?
In Iranian football, there are very few people left as courageous as Ali Karimi to publicly criticize the downfall of this formerly outstanding football powerhouse. But if there are more players like him, they are now clearly shown the red line they cannot cross.
Or else, no matter how constructive their criticisms may be, their national team and club career will be in jeopardy for good.
After all, in a society that freedom of expression and criticisms are responded with bullets and imprisonment, on its football pitch an immediate expel is the typical response by the intolerant Iranian football officials.
But just like Gandhi and Mandela rose up in defiance of such rules, so did Ali Karimi. To optimistic observers however, this incident may just be the catalyst to reveal and possibly change the political interventions in Iranian football, once and for all.
That was the case in a country like Iran up until recently, with the exception that game schedules would be held after sunset. Although mandatory for all Muslims, fasting was never enforced on players by Iran Pro League club officials.
But it seems as though Iranian club officials have gone to extremes this season as Steel Azin expelled their top scorer, Ali Karimi, for refusing to fast. After all it is a purely personal belief that is not practiced by majority of Iranian footballers, including 95 per cent of his team-mates, as indicated by former and current Iranian footballers. So why did Ali Karimi get boot among all others? Is there another reason for his club sacking?
There is.
Last week, prior to Steel Azin's match with Esteghlal and during team training, Ali Karimi had reportedly criticized Iran Pro League code of ethics committee; a newly formed organization, ironically led by a cleric figure, that oversees league players’ ethical and religious practices on and off the pitch. Shortly after, sport newspapers in Iran covered the story including a dispute between Ali Karimi and the club manager for drinking during fasting hours of the training.
In the news coverage, the Iran national team’s third best goal scorer was also labeled as “the controversial player who wore a Green wristband in a World Cup qualifier in support of Iran Green movement protests against fraudulent Presidental Election.” Soon after the incident, in a backlash, Ali Karimi, Steel Azin’s attacking midfielder was ordered to play in an unusual position as defender against Esteghlal.
Ajorloo | Didn't tolerate Karimi's criticism
A decision apparently not approved by Tubmakovic - Steel Azin’s coach - but ordered by the club manager, Mostafa Ajorloo. As the match ended in stalemate for Steel Azin, in a post-match interview Ali Karimi criticized Steel Azin’s new club manager and said, “Bringing high profile stars alone does not guarantee club success, a good club manager who provides professional environment would solve the team’s problems. For example, Steel Azin cannot bring fans into the stadium with force or with food incentives. And no other club accepts a free shirt sponsorship as Steel Azin club does.”Shockingly a day after, in a sudden press release by club officials, Ali Karimi was expelled from the club citing his refusal to fast as the reason for this decision.
The Tehran club manager’s explanation of his widely criticized move in Iran television broadcasting is even more disturbing; constantly referring to himself as “A revolutionary military commander with enough power, will and strong religious beliefs,” he explained “I did not only take charge of the club for football management but for my personal religious and ethical values. Also Ali Karimi’s charge is for acting against IFF’s regulation during Ramadan period, for drinking during training.”
Putting the puzzle together and considering the club manager’s political background, Ali Karimi shedding light on the flawed structure of lucrative Steel Azin and criticizing the club manager seems to be the reason for his dismissal. Refusal to fast may just be a religious cover for Ajorloo’s intolerance of criticism.
The whole story unfolding in less than 48 hours created enough buzz in the country, that former head of Iran football federation, a former Steel Azin coach and current Steel Azin players in united stance expressed their support for the popular Iranian midfielder, slamming Ajorloo’s political decision and creating enough noise outside the country to initiate a global petition to FIFA to oversee this incident.
While the Asian Football Confederation with a mandate by FIFA has aimed for a more harmonious modern football throughout Asia, with independent football clubs urged to run healthy business models and cohesive marketing to satisfy their fans’ expectations, it is utterly disappointing to see religion and politics still affects the very basic management decisions at Iranian clubs, to the extent of forming an ethical religious organization led by a cleric who monitors all Iranian footballers’ moves to punish them accordingly.
Maverick | Karimi is a popular public figure
Many IPL clubs’ management are held by key militant revolutionary guards of the government, including Steel Azin’s who have enough power to put an end to a prolific player’s club career for disobedience of an Islamic law or criticism of the politics of Iranian football. The question is: how is the AFC going to modernize Asian football if all these recurring incidents are overlooked in member countries?
In Iranian football, there are very few people left as courageous as Ali Karimi to publicly criticize the downfall of this formerly outstanding football powerhouse. But if there are more players like him, they are now clearly shown the red line they cannot cross.
Or else, no matter how constructive their criticisms may be, their national team and club career will be in jeopardy for good.
After all, in a society that freedom of expression and criticisms are responded with bullets and imprisonment, on its football pitch an immediate expel is the typical response by the intolerant Iranian football officials.
But just like Gandhi and Mandela rose up in defiance of such rules, so did Ali Karimi. To optimistic observers however, this incident may just be the catalyst to reveal and possibly change the political interventions in Iranian football, once and for all.
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