According to "Varzesh3," Saeid Fattahi, after the end of today's meeting of the managers of Esteghlal, about the situation of the football team of this club before the match against Shabab Al-Ahli of the Emirates, said: "God willing, we will head to Dubai on a direct flight. I ask the fans to send positive energy for the team so that we can obtain a good result."

He, in response to this question whether he had a role in providing the direct flight of Tractor Club, said: "In any case, everyone must help each other. Our friends had also done follow-ups themselves, and we also placed at their disposal the route that we had taken last time for the direct flight. They also acted from the same route, and thank God their work was done."

Fattahi, when faced with a question about the amount Tractor paid for this flight, replied: "Do not ask me about Tractor anymore."

The head of the football organization of Esteghlal, about the remarks raised by Hojjat Karimi and his hint at Ali Tajernia, said: "I really do not know what I should say. Such remarks are not nice. Last time too I explained that I had spoken with Mr. Zenouzi and it was decided that if our flight was direct and the capacity of the plane was greater, Tractor would also come with us and we had no problem. The number of members of our own convoy was 52 people, and we were even forced to reduce a few people. With these conditions, how could we have taken the members of Tractor with us as well? Besides, they themselves had also acted for their flight."

He, in explaining Esteghlal's follow-ups to obtain the direct flight permit, added: "We sent 20 to 30 letters to carry out this trip. We had even taken tickets for ordinary flights and planned to go first to Najaf and from there to Dubai. We had reserved the tickets from seven, eight or ten days before and continuously extended the reservation time so that the final program would be determined. Now that a direct flight has been provided for the representatives of Iran, everyone must be happy about this event, but unfortunately the matter is raised in another form."

Fattahi continued: "The whole effort of Esteghlal Club is that outside the field there be friendship among the clubs and healthy competition be limited to inside the field, so that people enjoy football. The media must also help in this path, because the repetition of some questions and margins causes these issues to continue."

The head of the football organization of Esteghlal, in the end, about the fate of the Hazfi Cup and Persepolis's desire to hold this tournament, said: "We would like these competitions to be held, although some clubs are opposed. The program of the competitions is compact, and as far as I know, there is no possibility of holding the Hazfi Cup completely. The proposal of Esteghlal Club was that when the calendar is in this form and last season's competitions have also remained half-finished, the competitions continue from the quarter-final stage and with the presence of the same eight teams. This decision is at least better than the competitions not being held completely. Those eight teams have advanced to this stage in last season and can hold the continuation of the cup. Just as they held the three-way tournament and the promotion and relegation play-off, the same eight teams should come and hold the continuation of the Hazfi Cup."

Source: Varzesh3