Iran Hazfi Cup final postponed

AFC - Iran’s Hazfi Cup final between Persepolis and Sepahan, which was scheduled to be held in Mashhad, Khorasan province, on Sunday has been postponed after the province’s sports authority refused to host the match.

Iran Pro League secretary Ali Kazemi told ISNA News Agency that a meeting of the IPL board will be held on Sunday to determine another venue and date for the summit clash.

Persepolis, however, requested the Iran Football Federation to host the summit clash home-and-away instead of a one-off game and had also refused to fly to Mashhad before the game was postponed.

Iran Physical Education Organisation, the top sports body of the country, had also asked the Iranian federation to hold the fixture home-and-away in Tehran and Isfahan but in vain.

Meanwhile, Persepolis’ Dutch coach Arie Haan said he would be flying back to Holland on May 22. “Regardless of the postponement I will leave for Holland on Monday and I have informed this to the club before,” he said.

Persepolis beat Nojan and Sepahan defeated Saba Battery in the semifinals. The winner of this event will represent the country in the next edition of the AFC Champions League along with Iran Pro League winners Esteghlal.