Iran, Zimbabwe Friendly Cancelled
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An international friendly between Iran and Zimbabwe football teams has been called off over FIFA rules.
Zimbabwe was supposed to play Iran on November 12 in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The African team will have to play Morocco four days later in Rabat.
“The friendly match between Iran and Zimbabwe has been cancelled. According to FIFA rules, two teams from two continents cannot play together less than 72 hours and the travel time should not be more than five hours,” the head of the International Affairs Committee of Iran Football Federation (IFF), Omid Jamali, said.
Iran, which is handled by former Real Madrid and Portugal head coach Carlos Quieroz, is preparing itself for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Team Melli has been scheduled to face South Korea on November 18 at the Aazdi Stadium.
Iran has been pitted against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Bahrain in Group C of the tournament.
The competition will be held in Australia from January 9 to 31.
