According to Varzesh3, Persepolis lost by a single goal at home to Foolad this afternoon and accepted its second defeat of the season. But Mohsen Khalili, the 45-year-old team manager of Persepolis, in the middle of the second half strongly protested the performance of Amir Arab-Boraghi over one incident and was eventually sent off from the side of the pitch. Now, at the end of this match, Mohsen Khalili has protested the refereeing performance and also claimed that Persepolis, by remedying its weaknesses, will strive for the championship.

Mohsen Khalili said: I thank the Persepolis fans who were by our side. We are embarrassed before them that we could not take the points we needed. But for much of the match, the flow of the game was in our hands, and in a situation we did not expect at all, Persepolis's goal was breached. We did not use our chances, and football is like that. If you do not use your opportunity, there is a possibility of losing.

But Mohsen Khalili, regarding the scene of his own dismissal and his strong protest against the refereeing performance, said: We have been talking about refereeing for several weeks. With respect to them, I believe referees try to present their best performance. But in my view, Mr. Arab-Boraghi could not manage the match. I do not know why everyone who blows the whistle against Persepolis first wants to show off a bit of his power and penalize Persepolis. The first thing they do is penalize our player so the rest get the message. The moment Pouria Shahrabadi went down in one scene, they gave him a yellow card for diving. But we were in a position on the counterattack and the referee did not give the opposing player a card and said the movement had been across the pitch.

About my own scene, I must say that they spun Mohammad Hossein Sadeghi around three times, and he blew the whistle so little that we protested. I had stepped one step beyond the technical line and I was sent off. If someone is going to be sent off over this one step, all the members of every team's coaching staff should face the red card.

After the dismissal, I went down the stairs as well and watched the match in difficult conditions. We no longer protested to the referee, and only at half-time did I speak with the referee about the Shahrabadi scene and told him that, in my view, he had decided too quickly and emotionally.

Mohsen Khalili, about Persepolis's defeat, said: All the members of the coaching staff, management and players of Persepolis strive with all their being to present their best performance. Any player who is good in training, Mr. Tartar, as head coach, also gives him his due. No player has a margin of security, and whichever player is good during the week goes into the field. The matches are analyzed, and the fans should rest assured that the players strive with all their being. I hope this effort leads to the championship. God willing, during the week the team will work on its weaknesses and will return with power.

Mohsen Khalili, about a reporter's question regarding the Persepolis forward's focus on social media, said: I do not know what you are talking about. Please allow me not to accept your words, and rest assured that all the players strive with all their being. I do not accept these remarks, and perhaps you spend too much time on Instagram.

Conceding a goal in the final minute and 'Foolad time'? We must cover up our weaknesses, and whether you concede a goal in the first minute or the 90th minute makes no difference. We must remedy the weaknesses and fight for the championship from here on.

Source: Varzesh3