Angry Daei threatens to quit as Iran football coach

Daei, the holder of the world record for international goals, was appointed in March to reverse the flagging fortunes of the Team Melli in its World Cup campaign. However with crunch qualifying matches approaching in June, it appears that relations between the ex-Bayern Munich striker Daei and federation head Ali Kafashian have reached an all time low.

"If Kafashian does not have time to talk with me about friendly matches and my contract, then I am not free either," Daei told the Hamshahri newspaper. "I have not won my honour so easily that I can lose it this way. If things go on like this, we should think about something else and they could appoint someone else who they like."

There is apparent concern in the federation that Daei is still coaching Iranian club side Saipa and may be distracted from focusing the Team Melli on its preparations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Media have said that the federation is waiting for the current Iranian football league season to end to sign a contract with Daei. However the football authorities played down the row with Daei and said the failure to sign a contract was unimportant.

"Daei has been busy with Saipa and Team Melli during this time and the fact a contract has not been signed is not a sensitive issue," said the deputy head of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj.

Daei's appointment ended a months-long coaching vacuum at the head of one of Asia's top sides which Iran had failed to fill despite an intensive search. The suddenness of his appointment led to speculation in Iran that leading figures in the Islamic republic had backed him in preference to Afshin Qotbi, the Iranian-American coach of top league side Persepolis.