5/16/2008
John Duerden, goal.com

A win for Persepolis on Saturday in the last game of the season at home to league leaders Sepahan will give the hosts the Iranian title but Reds coach Afshin Ghotbi maintains that his team are already champions.

Persepolis lie two points behind their opponents but were deducted six points by FIFA earlier in the season for non-payment of former employees.

Whatever happens at the Azadi Stadium, Ghotbi believes his team are already worthy winners.

“I just want to say that Persepolis are the champions of this league,” Ghotbi told Goal.com

“We have the most number of points, with the most wins, the most goals scored and the best goal difference and we have had six points deducted.

“On Saturday, Persepolis will go for a second title in the same season. To win the title at home would be really sweet.”

The two teams have been battling it out at he top for the most of the season. Sepahan have also been hit with a points deduction. After crowd violence at their home stadium, Sepahan were deducted five points. Later the punishment was reduced to three.

“It won’t be easy as Sepahan are one of the best teams in Asia but we are playing good football,” added the former assistant coach of South Korea.

“We also have the best fans in the world and we expect 110,000 people to come to the stadium for the game."

Earlier this week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) agreed to hear the club’s appeal about the six-point deduction.

“The court will hear the case but we don’t know when," added Ghotbi. "We are not going to wait for that. We want to lift the trophy on Saturday and it would make it even sweeter.”