Tehran – The head of Iran’s soccer federation issued a public apology and a member of his staff resigned after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year’s greeting to its counterpart in Israel, Iranian officials announced Sunday.
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“It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel’s football federation,” Ali Kaffashian, president of the Iran Football Federation, said in a statement carried by the semi-official Mehrs News Agency. “However, I am sure the director of the foreign relations office didn’t do it on purpose.”
Kaffashian said Iran’s soccer league routinely sends New Year’s greetings to all members of FIFA, the sport’s global federation, except for Israel. Iran does not recognize Israel, which it dismisses as the “Zionist entity,” and the two countries’ teams do not meet in international competitions.
Mohammad-Mansour Azimzadeh Ardebili, the head of the league’s foreign relations office, resigned over the matter, Kaffashian said.
Not surprised but just wow. So much hate its unbelieveable! A guy resigns for sending a meaningless New Years card!
dont apologize dont resign. laugh about and arrange an israel vs. iran game. this is a perfect way to start a real peace process with them.
Did he resign or was he killed
The resignation was warranted on timing considerations alone since they were nearly 4 months late in wishing the Israel team a shahah tovah.
He needs to do a Carter Al Chet.
In other words a Muslim gets into trouble for sends a Jew a Christian Newyear’s greeting.
Israel should send one back, signed with peace and love
don’t you get it? this is a simple childish ploy to get some more anti-Israel rhetoric our there…(reverse psychology)
LOL. Only in Iran. Tipshim.
LOL. He had to apologize to his own people? Probably over the embarrassment of having possession of the Israelis’ email address in the first place. “How can you have their email address when they don’t exist??” Yeah, we’d love to hear your explanation too.
I wanna know one thing about Iran. When is Israel gonna bomb the bejesus out of those nuclear facilities.
His rhetoric resembles that of the Neturei Karta….
all of this is from the khomieni era. people who remember under the shah remember israel playing iran. furthermore ,if they both qualified for the world cup and had to play each other i think iran would play [unless they’ re afraid to lose like the U.S.A,.plaid them in the world cup even though they were enemies.
When wishing one a “Happy New Year” (for Jan 1st) shouldn’t at least one or the other party recognize it, calendar -wise as the start of a new year? Why would I, for example wish a Greek friend of mine a Happy New Year on Chinese New Year of the monkey, pig, etc.?
This is totally outragous so much hate in these guys!!!!!!!!!
That show you how meaningless the other new year’s wishes were–just names on a list.