Arrested Iranian Football Official Confessed to 15 Cases of Match-Fixing

^{Photo: Khodadad Afsharian}

Khodadad Afsharian, the former head of the Referees Committee of the Iranian Football Federation, who is currently in custody, has confessed to involvement in at least 15 incidents of match-fixing in the Premier League and Division One, according to Iran Focus, citing the state-run Jam-e Jam newspaper. 

Afsharian, who is currently in custody on charges of accepting bribes, made the admission while under investigation.

Afsharian, who was arrested on bribery charges, not only admitted his own involvement in match-fixing but also implicated several referees in the scandal within Iranian football. It is expected that these referees will soon be summoned to court to provide testimony regarding the allegations.

Recognizing the extensive corruption within football, Kiumars Hashemi, the Minister of Sports, has officially announced the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology for the upcoming Premier League season. However, Iranian experts argue that relying solely on VAR is insufficient and that decisive action must be taken against the corrupt elements within the refereeing system.

Insiders have also revealed the widespread involvement of club managers, coaches, and referees in match-fixing. These revelations come shortly after the arrest of Fariborz Mahmoudzadeh, another football official who served as the former head of Division One and Special Affairs Deputy to Mehdi Taj, the President of the Football Federation.

Earlier reports from May 2024 had raised suspicions of potential match-fixing, which were identified by the United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS).