Iran soccer official resigns over New Year's greeting to Israel
Iranian Football Federation: Greetings sent every year to FIFA members except 'federation of the Zionist regime.'
By Haaretz Service Tags: Iran Israel newsA senior official in the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) was urged to resign on Saturday after a New Year's greeting email was apparently sent on his behalf to his counterparts in Israel, the Iranian Fars news agency reported.
Mohammad-Manour Azimzadeh, the head of the FFI foreign relations' office, resigned after a mass New Year's greeting email sent by the FFI reportedly ended up with the football federation of Israel, Iran's arch-foe.
The FFI said in a statement that the emails are sent every year worldwide to all member federations of the world football governing body FIFA, "except the football federation of the Zionist regime" which has been deleted by the FFI from the mailing list.
The statement however said that a FIFA employee - apparently an Israeli of Iranian descent - had forwarded the Iranian greeting message to the Israeli federation as well.
The FFI said that Azimzadeh submitted his resignation in light of the incident.
Iran does not acknowledge the sovereignty of Israel and even Iranian athletes are in no way allowed to compete against Israeli teams in international tournaments, including at the Olympics.
Mohammad Ali Ardebili, director of foreign relations for the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, told Army Radio last week that he had not intended to send the message to the Israel Football Association.
"It is a greeting sent to every country in the world," Ardebili said. He quickly then inquired: "Are you talking from Israel? I can't speak with you. It's a mistake, it's a mistake."
The greeting was received in Israel by the head of the Israel Football Association's legal department, Amir Navon.
"He came into my office asking me if I thought it was a mistake," said body spokesman Gil Levanoni. "So I told him that I didn't know, but that we should send in a reply."
Levanoni and Navon said they replied to the greeting with a "happy new year to all the good people of Iran," and said: "We also added a wink."
"We wrote them that we hoped that they would have a happy soccer year," Levanoni added."
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is the complete lack of respect that israel has for others.
As an Israeli I shall bask in our more civilized and enlightened ways. It is not us who boycott Iranians sportsmen in the middle of the Olympics. It is not us who have a "death to Iran" day anually. Please do not make a cheap euqivalence between Israel and Iran. As for your take on history and today you are simply turning the subject into mush. We do not happen to be at war with Iran, or have you not taken notice. We do not occupy their land nor do we shoot rockets at them. So what are they so upset about, the Palestinians? Pleeeeeeze. Who has been on trial for advocated speaking with the PLO or Hamas, name one. As for meeeting with the enemy during a wartime, many nations apply such laws. Or have you not noticed that we are at war with the PLO and the Hamas? Using your criteria, Gideon Levy & the eidtors of Haaretz would have been executed long ago. If you care about this country be rational, and stop acting like a complaining clown.
Even KORAN recognizes JEWS as the "People of the Book" and with due referencs from "HOLY TANAKH." They why such kind of causeless hatred for Israel???
I am sending this message with hope that it may fine place in your online publication. It is purely out of love for JUDAISM & Israel and my Biblical studies & visits of one decade. THE TALMUD BAVLI was written by the Prophets during Balylonian Exile in Iraq and the Jews were freed from the captivity by a mighty Persian King who facilitated re-construction of the Holy Temple at Yerusalem. Such old is the ties between Iran (Persia) & Israel....and the day will be come that tyrannt & opportunist Politician & facist Leaders will perish and universal Brotherhood will prevail in the Middle-East. The Biblical Israel / Jacob will redeem it's Glory. AMEN!!!
I am sure he did not mean to offend the black turbans. Go Green!
Another sad example of the immaturity of many human beings (unfortunately most of them seem to be in positiions of power around the world.) Before we Jews and Israelis bask in our supposedly more superior and enlightened ways, we should remember that not so long ago, citizens were put on trial and/or boycotted (well, the latter happens even now) by advocating speaking with the PLO, Hamas, or even of considering as valid certain criticisms of Israel like the Golsdstone report. We have much to learn as well.
well the people or iran do not recognize the soverignty or legitimacy of their government either so who cares about what the government says...people of persia and isreal unite for peace
only some mad mullahs keep Iranians as hostages. the cheap mullah cliques have hijacked and are torturing Iran the ordinary man is powerless if gene sharp - aeinstein.org - is right, a leadership of nonviolence can save iranians from the oppression.
How can Israel ever make peace with it's enemies when they are so full of hatred?
This gets to the root of the whole Arab/Israeli/Palestinian conflict. A complete lack of respect for Israel.