News / Sports

Iran’s FFIRI inks memorandum of understanding with Russian RFS

Thursday, 12 October 2017 8:10 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 12 October 2017 8:12 AM ]

General Secretary of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), Mohammad Reza Saket (L), and his Russian counterpart Alexander Alaev sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a ceremony in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan on October 10, 2017.

The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) and the Russian Football Union (RFS) have struck an agreement on the promotion of cooperation and interaction between the official governing bodies responsible for organizing national teams as well as club competitions of football, futsal and beach soccer in the two countries.

General Secretary of the FFIRI Mohammad Reza Saket and his Russian counterpart Alexander Alaev signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a ceremony in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan. Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei was also in attendance.

The move will see Iran-Russia collaboration in men’s and women’s sports fields, enhancement of football ties, exchanging expertise on sport, holding training courses for Iranian male and female coaches and referees, and organizing friendly games.

The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has so far signed MoUs with several different countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway and Romania.

On Tuesday evening, Russia had held the Iran men’s national football team, also known as Team Melli, to a one-all draw in an international friendly match played as part of preparations for the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.

The Iran national football team defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on June 12, and became the first Asian team - and the third squad after Brazil and hosts Russia - to secure its place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Azmoun opened the scoring for the host team in the 23rd minute.

Mehdi Taremi found the back of the net from inside the area in the 88th minute, and finished off the White Wolves.

This is the second time in a row that Team Melli has won the ticket for the FIFA World Cup finals under the tutelage of its 64-year-old Portuguese head coach Carlos Queiroz.

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