Attempts are to be made to sell Iran’s two largest football clubs, Tehran’s Esteghlal and Persepolis, to the private sector.
The Iranian government on December 17 approved a Ministry of Sport and Youth proposal for the sale of the clubs, known for contesting the major crosstown derby in the Persian Gulf Pro League, known as the Red-Blue Derby. The plan was approved by President Hassan Rouhani earlier this week.
Hossein Mazari, vice president of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, said private buyers would be willing to acquire the clubs but added that the acquisition terms must be clear and reasonable, Iran Student News Agency reported.
Disagreements within the clubs’ present ownership structures over shareholding transparency and meeting rules set down by international organisations like Fifa have kept the sale proposals on the back burner for several months.
Mazari mentioned international standards set by Fifa on television broadcasting rights and ticket sale rules as requirements that must be safeguarded and met.
The Cabinet said in a resolution that the Iranian Privatisation Organisation would carry out all stages of evaluation, pricing, determination of conditions and procedures for assignment to applicants in the sale of Esteghlal and Persepolis.
Don’t just follow the news—understand it.
The IntelliNews PRO service includes access to reports, exclusive market data, and more news that decision-makers care about. Stay ahead of the market with IntelliNews PRO.
Sign Up NowRelated Articles
Australian Unions Reach Deal with Inpex to End Strikes at Ichthys LNG Plant
Australian union groups have come to an agreement with Japanese energy firm Inpex to halt strike action at the Ichthys LNG facilities, Reuters reported on June 17. Australia’s Offshore Alliance, ... more
Iran, US sign Islamabad MoU on ceasefire, sanctions relief and Hormuz shipping
Iran and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Islamabad declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations and setting a 60-day timetable to negotiate a final ... more
Deal or no deal? Comparing the Iran MoU to the JCPOA
When the US and the P5+1 concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015, the document ran to 159 pages, enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231 with a snapback mechanism. The ... more