Wednesday October 31, 2007
John Duerden, Guardian Unlimited

After an impressive start in charge of Tehran's biggest club, American citizen Afshin Ghotbi may soon be invited to manage his native country

It didn't make international news headlines in August when an American citizen was greeted by thousands of people at Tehran airport and carried out of the terminal on the shoulders of locals but that's what happened to Afshin Ghotbi.

The 43 year-old had been unsure about what sort of welcome he'd receive as he returned to his homeland for the first time in 30 years to become the manager of Tehran giants Persepolis. He needn't have worried. Hordes of fans, and his mother, who he hadn't seen since he left the country in 1977 to settle in California, were waiting with flags, tears and open arms. If Ghotbi had forgotten how much football meant to the people of Iran, he was quickly reminded.
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10/30/2007
Afshin Afshar, lastkick.com

Is it me or having the Vice President of a country actively seeking the highest football office in the land, while he is holding on to his vice presidency and other responsibilities, is something peculiar let alone in direct conflict with FIFA’s apolitical football requirement.

That is precisely what is happening in Iran right now. Mohammad Aliabadi, Iran president’s deputy, who also happens to be the man in charge of all matters concerning sports in the country, has been actively seeking the top football job in the country.
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10/30/2007

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Soccer's world governing body FIFA has suspended Kuwait from all international matches because of governmental interference in the national game.

The suspension could rule the Gulf state out of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, qualifiers for which resume in two weeks.

Kuwait held elections for key posts in the country's soccer federation on Oct. 9 but FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) refused to recognise the polls.
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10/29/2007
Kaveh Mahjoob, lastkick.com

More Troubles for the BLUEs!

Once again the week belonged to Sepahan as this team’s victory over UAE’s Alwahda meant for the first time in the Asian Championship League history, an Iranian team would participate in the finals. Bonacic’s team continued to play smart and with the 3 -1 victory of the first leg needed a calculated match to qualify for the finals. The scoreless draw secured the qualification.

Table leaders Perspolis traveled to Anzali to face Malavan. Malavan started the match at 4th place but the tie settled them down at the 6th position. The game was a hard fought match. Perspolis began with 30 minutes of offensive minded football and Nikbakht Vahdi scored the RED’s only goal. Malavan soon scored the equalizer and from that point on, the two teams played an even match. It is important to note that the streak is still alive. Perspolis has not lost a match this season and going to last season has not lost in 21 straight matches.
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10/28/2007
sportinglife.com

Thierry Henry struck late in the first half and substitute Lionel Messi added a penalty late on to give Barcelona victory over Almeria at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

The France striker had come in for heavy criticism in the lead-up to the game following a string of disappointing performances and a goal drought stretching back to the end of last month, when the former Arsenal forward bagged a hat-trick against bottom-of-the-table Levante.

Although it was far from a classic display from Henry, nor his team for that matter, the 30-year-old was in the right place at the right time to score the all-important first goal just before the break.
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Monday October 29, 2007
The Guardian, Kevin McCarra at Anfield

On an afternoon such as this it feels as if the long run-in to the title has begun. The prize may still be far beyond view but the match pulsed with urgency, gripped the spectator with the contrast of philosophies and offered everything other than a victor. The game led a long life, maturing from initial grimness when Liverpool, all too conscious of the Champions League defeat by Besiktas in Turkey, were at their most doggedly resolute.

Divided though the points were, it is Rafael Benítez's team who had the lion's share of disappointment. This fixture had been given such a priority that Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso were both allowed out of the treatment room, only for each to be brought down by a recurrence of his injury. There are concerns about the harm done, respectively, to an abductor muscle and a metatarsal.
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10/28/2007
lastkick.com

Fans, Did you watch Manchester United v Middlesbrough yesterday? Well if you did, you not only would have been witness to one of the more entertaining matches of this season, but also to one of the most amazing goals of the year.

The hero for this goal was none other than Portuguese starlet Nani. This goal was all him, he worked hard down the left wing, went passed a defender, cut to the middle and surrounded by a couple of other defenders took a cracking shot that kissed nothing but the net.

Watch that and the rest of the goals in that game right here:

Oct 25, 2007
PA Sport

ABU DHABI – Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic was pleased with the professional performance of his side on Wednesday as they played out a goalless draw with Al Wahda at Al Nahyan Stadium to advance to the final of the AFC Champions League.

The Hazfi Cup holders were able to defend the 3-1 advantage that they built up in the first leg in Esfahan as they became the first Iranian club to reach the final of Asia’s premier club competition.
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Andy Hunter at Inonu Stadium
Thursday October 25, 2007
The Guardian

Liverpool flirt frequently with danger in Istanbul but too much exposure is liable to leave one burnt. In the city that straddles two continents Rafael Benítez's team were presented with their own great divide last night: the gulf between their capacity for extraordinary recovery in the Champions League and the ignominy of a group stage exit. On current form, and contrary to the protestations of their manager, they are courting the latter.
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Oct 25, 2007
PA Sport

ABU DHABI – Iranian side Sepahan set up a meeting with Urawa Reds of Japan in the AFC Champions League final after battling to a goalless draw with Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates at Al Nahyan Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg, the Hazfi Cup holders held on to their advantage with a disciplined defensive performance that made them the first club from their country to reach the final of Asia’s premier club competition.
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