South Korean coach Pim Verbeek plans to use his team's AFC Asian Cup final qualifier against Iran as a key training exercise for the Asian Games, where they are aiming to lift their first Asiad football title since 1986. AFP reports their match in Teheran has added spice with reports that the former head of Iran's football federation has formally resigned his post in an apparent bid to end a row with FIFA over alleged government meddling in the sport.
Mohammad Dadkan and his board were fired after Iran's weak performance at last summer's World Cup in Germany and the government appointed an official from the state run Physical Education Organisation as his acting replacement. FIFA have given Iran until today to fall into line with their strict rules of non-government intervention in football, maintaining that Dadkan and his board remained the legitimate heads of football in Iran.
Mohammad Dadkan and his board were fired after Iran's weak performance at last summer's World Cup in Germany and the government appointed an official from the state run Physical Education Organisation as his acting replacement. FIFA have given Iran until today to fall into line with their strict rules of non-government intervention in football, maintaining that Dadkan and his board remained the legitimate heads of football in Iran.