According to a Mehr reporter, Esteghlal volleyball team has begun the new season of the Volleyball Premier League while facing financial problems and unpaid dues from the very start of the season, which has put the team at risk of early removal from the competition.

Esteghlal volleyball team was supposed to face Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan in the first week, but because its debts were not paid and the status of its financial obligations was not clarified, it was not allowed to take part in the matches and suffered a technical defeat. Now conditions have become more difficult for the Blues, because this year the Volleyball Federation has become stricter about settling accounts with players and coaches, and teams must clarify the status of their debts in order to take part in the competition. Meanwhile, Esteghlal must certainly resolve its financial problems as soon as possible, so that its absence in the first week does not cost it the entire season.

Of course, in addition to Esteghlal, the Mes Rafsanjan volleyball team was also supposed to host Shahrdari Urmia in the first week of the Premier League, but because it did not honor its financial obligations it did not receive permission to play and suffered a technical loss. However, the head coach of Mes Rafsanjan has expressed hope that these debts will be paid and that the Mes Rafsanjan team will play this week after resolving its problems and debts.

Esteghlal's slim chance to stay in the league

Under the league organization's regulations, if a team is declared the loser in two matches by decision of the disciplinary committee, it will be removed from the rest of the competition. For this reason, Esteghlal, which could not take the court against Sepahan in the first week, does not have much opportunity left to continue in the league.

The team must face Foolad Sirjan Iranian on Wednesday, and in order to take part in this match it needs to settle the status of its debts as soon as possible. A repeat of such an incident could put Esteghlal at risk of removal from the Volleyball Premier League.

Esteghlal's problems have arisen at a time when the club, under the management of Ali Tajernia, intended to be more broadly active in various sports. However, recent events show that taking part in a professional competition requires, above all, financial planning and adherence to obligations.

Even if it pays its current debts, Esteghlal must be careful not to face a similar problem later in the season, because a repeat of an unjustified absence and a second technical defeat could lead to the team's removal. It remains to be seen whether the club's managers can solve the problems in the remaining time, or whether Esteghlal will be eliminated from the competition much sooner than expected.

Esteghlal and Mes Rafsanjan have until Wednesday

Jabbar Ghouchannejad, head of the Volleyball League Organization, in an interview with a Mehr reporter, referring to the situation of Esteghlal and Mes Rafsanjan, said: About a month ago we informed the teams that they must not have any unsettled debts, and we followed up on this matter several times through calls and letters. We even sent letters to the clubs last week, but Esteghlal and Mes Rafsanjan took no action to settle their debts.

He said: These two teams have until before the second week's matches on Wednesday to clarify their status; otherwise, according to the regulations, if a second technical defeat is recorded they will be removed from the competition table. The debts of these clubs amount to several billion tomans, and a significant part of it relates to the dues of players and coaching staff members from last season. There can be flexibility regarding the federation's share, but there should be no leniency regarding the dues of players and coaches.

Source: Mehr News Agency