The Iran Football Federation, in an official statement responding to Khodadad Azizi's objections, detailed the process of obtaining flight permits for the football teams Esteghlal, Tractor, and Gol Gohar. This statement specifically addresses the criticisms raised about the difficulties of the teams' travel to Oman for participation in the Asian Elite League.
Details of Flight Permits
The Iran Football Federation announced that it has been in correspondence with the football federations of Qatar and Oman simultaneously to obtain flight permits for the teams. According to this report, the Qatari government has successfully issued a flight permit for the Esteghlal team, while the Oman Football Federation has stated that it has been unable to obtain the necessary permit for the Tractor and Gol Gohar teams.
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Recently, Khodadad Azizi, a veteran of Iranian football, criticized the problems arising from travel to Oman and called for the football federation and the Ministry of Sports officials to address this issue. In an interview from Baghdad Airport, he pointed out the challenges of the teams' difficult travel and advised the relevant authorities to take necessary measures.
Winding Routes for Teams
According to the Iran Football Federation, the Gol Gohar Sirjan team will take a complicated route to play against Al-Muharraq of Bahrain. This team must travel from Sirjan to Tehran, then to Najaf, and from there by bus to Baghdad, ultimately reaching Muscat, Oman. This match will take place on Wednesday, October 22, 1405.
The Tractor team is also beginning a difficult journey to Oman for participation in the Elite League. This team will fly from Tabriz to Najaf and then take a bus to Baghdad, finally arriving in Muscat, Oman by flight. Tractor will host Al-Shamal of Qatar on Monday, October 20.
In this context, news agencies reported that the Esteghlal football team used a special aircraft for its travel to Doha to play against Al-Gharafa of Qatar. This aircraft belongs to the government protocol and has bypassed restrictions due to flight exemptions.
The use of this aircraft has allowed Esteghlal to reduce travel time and easily reach Qatar. This action comes at a time when recent U.S. sanctions against the aviation industry of the Islamic Republic have affected many international flights.
Consequences of Tensions on the Aviation Industry
Sanctions and flight restrictions have negatively impacted the aviation industry of the Islamic Republic, creating problems for the international travel of sports teams. Given the current conditions, Iranian officials believe that such restrictions will lead to further isolation and could escalate tensions in the region.
In light of these challenges, the Iran Football Federation will continue its efforts to improve travel conditions for teams and aims to resolve existing problems through negotiation and cooperation with other federations.
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