Shafagh: Iranian football Reputation at stake if revealing Clemente contract

The process of Iran Football Federation with Spaniard Clemente was recorded as a big failure for IFF managers. Naser Shafagh, the leading IFF negotiator with Javier Clemente, responds to several ambiguities regarding the contract and IFF’s clause which lead to the Spaniard's contract break-off.

*Mr. Shafagh, would you clarify on ambiguities regarding IFF’s contract with Clemente?

Shafagh: Yes, the initial contract were agreed in Spain, in which there were 11 clauses. 3 of the clauses are very clear in indicating that Clemente will be at the helm of Iran National team until the end of World Cup 2011. According to this agreement, he would be paid 300,000 Euro and he also should have resided in Iran. If Clemente were keen on leaving Iran more than twice a year, he should have done so with permission from IFF, even if the nature of his trip is to visit Iranian legionnaires. This was our initial agreement with Clemente which had no ambiguity.

*But in interview with Spanish Press, Clemente claimed he would coach Iran while living in Spain.

Shafagh: I think there was a misunderstanding regarding the translation of his interviews. The two clauses which were added to his agreement, took place in his visit to Tehran and not in the initial contract in Spain. In Spain, he agreed to live in Tehran, but a misunderstanding regarding the added clauses caused the change of direction in negotiation process.

*So in the initial contract, Clemente agreed to live in Iran?

Shafagh: Yes, these are all indicated in the initial contract and it can be published.

*You can defend yourself in a way if you publish this contract.

Shafagh: Im not at the court to defend myself. I do what is best for Iranian football. I am willing to publish the initial contract to reveal the truth.


*Why is the contract signed in Tehran is different to that of the one at Spain?

Shafagh: I don’t know, it was questionable for me as well. However, in Spain the preconditions were signed and a new contract was composed in Tehran.

*Who composed the new contract?

Shafagh: Iran Football Federation officials.

*You don’t want to name anyone?

Shafagh: At IFF there is a department for Contract Affairs. IFF’s International department under management of Mehdi Taj composed the new contract. To compose the contract, a discussion meeting was held in IFF with me and Aziz Mohammadi. I was not aware of new contract details, but they added two clauses to his contract in Tehran. They submitted the second contract to Clemente’s agent to sign. It was only that time that I noticed the difference between the agreed contract in Spain to that of modified contract in Tehran.

In the second contract, there was a clause in which if Clemente would exempt one day from team training, he would be sacked. This clause has clear contradiction with professional football contracts. In the next clause, it was not clear if Clemente is requested to reside in Iran or not, but later on IFF clarified the second clause and requested his residency.


*If Clemente agreed with the preconditions of living in Iran, then why did he turn down IFF’s request of residing in Iran later on?

Shafagh: Well this was affected by the controversies being created throughout the process. If he would be given the exact preconditions agreed in Spain, he would sign it, but when the new clauses were added Clemente did not agree.

*Why the two clauses were added at all?

Shafagh: This is my question as well. I don’t know why this controversial clause was added to begin with. My whole responsibility was to bring Clemente to Iran.


*But you didn’t clarify exactly who and for what reason submitted a different contract to Clemente?

Shafagh: I don’t want to clarify any further, because it will reveal issues that will hurt image of Iranian football. In my opinion, when Clemente agreed and signed the agreement to reside in Tehran, there shouldn’t have been any modification to it later on.

*There are reports suggesting that certain people inside IFF were keen on bringing an Iranian coach instead.

Shafagh: No, I don’t think so, because all IFF members agreed on bringing Clemente to Iran.