Ali al-Sistani and Persian Gulf Pro League: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox ReligiousBio
{{Infobox football league
| background = #008000
| name = Persian Gulf Cup
| name = Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani
| logo = Persian Gulf Cup logo.jpg
| pixels = 130
| image = [[Image:Sistani protest.jpg]]<BR>Sistani (seen in poster) is the highest religious authority and leader of the [[Hawza]] ([[Najaf]])
| religion = [[Shi'a Islam]]
| country = Iran
| confed = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
| alias = [[Arabic]]: السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني<BR>[[Persian language|Persian]]: سید علی حسینی سیستانی;
| founded = 2001
| location = {{flagicon|Iraq}} - [[Najaf]], [[Iraq]]
| divisions = 1
| Title = [[Ayatollah|Grand Ayatollah]]
| Period = [[1992]] - Present
| teams = 18
| relegation = [[Azadegan League]]
| Predecessor =
| Successor =
| levels = 1
| domest_cup = [[Hazfi Cup]]
| ordination =
| post = [[Ayatollah|Grand Ayatollah]]
| confed_cup = [[AFC Champions League]]
| champions = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| date of birth = {{Birth date and age|1930|08|04}}
| season = [[Persian Gulf Cup 2007-08|2007–08]]
| place of birth = {{flagicon|Iran}} - [[Mashhad]], [[Iran]]
| most successful club = [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
| date of death =
| tv = [[Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting|IRIB]]
| place of death =
| website = [http://www.al-sistani.org www.al-sistani.org]
| website =
| current = [[Persian Gulf Cup 2008-09|2008-09 season]]
}}[[Grand Ayatollah]] '''[[Sayyid]] [[Ali (name)|Ali]] Husaini al-Sistani''' [[Arabic]]: السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني, [[Persian language|Persian]]: سید علی حسینی سیستانی;. Born [[iranian calendar|approximately]] [[August 4]], [[1930]]) is an [[Iranian]] born [[Ayatollah|Grand Ayatollah]], and [[Twelver]] [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]] ''[[marja]]'' residing in [[Iraq]] since 1951. He is currently the preeminent Shi'a cleric in Iraq<ref>Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, (2006), p.171</ref> as well as an important political figure in [[Post-invasion Iraq]].
}}
The '''Iran Pro League (IPL)''' ({{PerB|لیگ برتر فوتبال ایران}}, currently known as the '''Persian Gulf Cup''' (جام خلیج فارس) is a professional [[Football (soccer)|football]] league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the [[Iranian football league system]].


The league [[Iranian football league system|system]] resembles the system being used in [[England]] currently. The Premier League is the top tier of an extensive pyramid-like structure, above the [[Azadegan League]] (or 1st Division), the [[Iran Football's 2nd Division|2nd division]], the [[Iran Football's 3rd Division|3rd Division]] and the lower local leagues.
==Biography==
===Early life===
The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was born [[August 4]], [[1930]] in [[Mashhad]], [[Iran]] to a family of religious scholars. His grandfather, for whom he was named, was a famous scholar who had studied in [[Najaf]]. Sistani's family originally comes from [[Isfahan]]. During the [[Safavid]] period, his forefather Sayyid Mohammad, was appointed as "Shaikhul Islam" (Leading Authority of Islam) by [[Husayn (Safavid)|King Hussain]] in the Sistan province. He traveled to Sistan where he and his children settled the area of Iran known as [[Sistan and Baluchistan Province|Sistan]], which accounts for the title "al-Sistani" in his great grandson's name today. Ali Sistani began his religious education as a child, beginning in Mashhad, and moving on to study at the Shi'a holy city of [[Qom]] in central Iran in 1949. After spending a few years there, in 1951 he went to [[Iraq]] to study in Najaf under the late [[Grand Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei]]. Sistani rose in religious rank to be named a [[Marja]] in 1960 under the military dictatorship of Iraqi president [[Abd al-Karim Qasim]].<ref name="atimes">{{cite web |date= [[February 10]], [[2005]]|url = http://atimes01.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GB10Ak02.html|title = Coming to terms with Sistani|format = HTML |publisher = [http://atimes01.atimes.com Asia Times Online]| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last=Sami Moubayed }}</ref> At the unusually young age of 31 (1961) Ayatullah Sistani reached the senior level of accomplishment called [[Ijtehad]], which entitled him to pass his own judgments on religious questions.<ref name="khoei">{{cite web |date=Sat, 30 April 2005 15:30:08|url = http://al-huda.al-khoei.org/news/124/ARTICLE/1075/2005-04-30.html|title = When Ayatullah Sistani Speaks, Millions Obey: Says Time|format = HTML |publisher = [http://al-huda.al-khoei.org al-khoei.org]| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last= |quote=}}</ref>


==History==
===Grand Ayatollah===
===Pre-1970s===
{{Twelvers}}
Before the early 1970's Iran did not have an official national league. Most teams would participate in city championships. [[Esteghlal|Taj]]<sup>1</sup> and [[Pirouzi|Persepolis]]<sup>2</sup> had become the two most popular teams in the mid 60s and continue to be in the present. [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]], [[Shahin FC|Shahin]], [[Esteghlal F.C.|Taj]], [[Daraei F.C.]], all won championships in the [[Tehran]] local league, during this period.
When Ayatollah [[Khoei]] died in 1992, Sistani ascended to the rank of Grand Ayatollah by the traditional method - through peer recognition of his scholarship. His role as successor to Khoei was symbolically cemented when he lead the funeral prayers of his widely esteemed teacher and he would go on to inherit Khoei's network and following. With the death of other leading ayatollahs in Iraq including Grand Ayatollah [[Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr]], Sistani emerged as the preeminent Shi'a cleric in Iraq. As the leading Ayatollah in Najaf, Sistani oversees sums amounting to millions of dollars. Sistani's followers offer him a fixed part of their earnings, which he spends for educational and charitable purposes. Sistani's office reports that he supports 35,000 students in [[Qom]], 10,000 in [[Mashhad]], and 4,000 in [[Isfahan]].<ref name="MartinKramer">{{cite web |date= April 4, 2003.|url = http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/2003_04_04.htm|title = The Ayatollah Who Spared Najaf|format = HTML |publisher = | accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last=Martin Kramer |quote=}}</ref> He also oversees a network of representatives (''wakil'') "who promote his view in large and small ways in neighborhoods, mosques, bazaars, and seminaries from Kirkuk" to Basra.<ref>Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, (2006), p.177</ref>


===Takht Jamshid Cup===
He is also said to have a substantial following in Iran as a result of the post-invasion opening of the Iraqi shrine cities of [[Najaf]] and [[Karbala]] to Iranians, including "great popularity and influence among" the bazaari of the city of [[Qom]]. Many Iranians are said to return from pilgrimage in Iraq followers of Sistani.<ref>Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, (2006), p.221</ref>
{{main|Takht Jamshid Cup}}
In 1972, the [[Takht Jamshid Cup]] was created. It was designed to include teams from all over the country, but as usual teams from Tehran dominated, mostly [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]], winning the final two. The league was in place until the [[Iranian Revolution]] took place, and the 1978 season was left uncompleted.


===Baath Party===
===1980s===
Due to the revolution and the [[Iran–Iraq War]], football was no longer a priority. Clubs had very little money and due to political reasons team names, management and resources were changed. There was no major league competition during the 1980-89 period, only a few cup competitions and some local city league championships such as the [[17th of Shahrivar league]] and the [[Qods Cup]].In 1989 the [[Qods League]] was created and saw Esteghlal as its champion.
While Sistani had survived the persecution that killed many other Shia clerics, his [[mosque]] was shut down in 1994, and did not reopen until after the American invasion which toppled the [[Baath Party|Baath]] regime. Since that time, he has usually kept to himself in his house in Najaf. His behavior is seen by many as a protest against persecution, but others consider it to originate from the house-arrest orders issued by the Baath Party. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} Despite his seclusion and inaccessibility, Sistani has extensive influence throughout the Shi'a population of Iraq through a network of junior clerics who convey his teachings. Due to his influence, he has played a quiet but important role in the current politics of Iraq. He is particularly known for forcing the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] into a compromise on the constitutional process, for issuing a [[fatwa]] calling on all Shi'a especially women to vote, and for calling on Shi'a communities not to retaliate to [[Sunni]] sectarian violence. He is also the one who called for a truce at the [[Imam Ali Mosque]] in Najaf where [[Muqtada Sadr]] and his Mahdi Army were cornered in a gun battle siege in August 2004.


===Azadegan League===
In early August 2004, Sistani, who has long been suffering from a heart condition, reportedly suffered serious health problems and he travelled to [[London]] to receive medical treatment. It was the first time in many years that Sistani had left his home in [[Najaf]], which seems to indicate that his medical condition was serious enough for caution.
In 1991 the Qods league was renamed the [[Azadegan League]].
Named the Azadegan League in honor of Iranian [[POW|prisoners of war]] who were released, it began operations in the 1991-92 season. Pas Tehran was its first champion. For the first time in more than ten years Iran finally had a national league again. The number of teams playing in the league varied from year to year. [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]] and [[Saipa FC|Saipa]] dominated the league in the first four years. Pas Tehran and Esteghlal both were able to capture [[AFC Champions League|Asian Club Championships]] in the early 1990s. By the mid-90s Persepolis and Esteghlal regained their dominant form. The league championship every year between 1995-2001 was either [[Esteghlal]] or [[Persepolis]]. The two clubs always had the most talented players in Iran, the national team consisted mainly of Persepolis and Esteghlal players, and some of the greatest talents Iranian football has seen were discovered during this period.


[[Image:Ipl200.png|thumb|150px|right|IPL Logo (2001-2006)]]
===Role in contemporary Iraq===


===Iran Pro League===
Since the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, Sistani has played an increasingly wider political role in Iraq, and the Western mainstream media has called him the "most influential" figure in post-invasion Iraq.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web |date=Last Updated: 1:13am BST 04/09/2006|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/03/wirq03.xml|title = I no longer have power to save Iraq from civil war, warns Shia leader|format = HTML |publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last=Gethin Chamberlain and Aqeel Hussein}}</ref><ref name="FOX2003">{{cite web |date= November 27, 2003|url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,104263,00.html|title = Shiite Cleric Seen as Iraq's Most Influential Leader|format = HTML |publisher = pub| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last= |quote=a frail, 70-something Shiite Muslim (search) cleric with a heart condition — has emerged in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq as the land's most influential figure, something U.S. planners may not have counted on.}}</ref>
The [[IPL 2001/02|2001-2002]] season saw the beginning of the first professional football league in [[Iran]]. Unfortunately many say that the new league is professional in name only and is missing many of the required components of a pro league. Player salaries have risen significantly and other positives in the league are the emergence of provincial teams and raw talent which every IPL team boasts. Teams like [[Sepahan|Foolad Sepahan]], [[Foolad FC|Foolad Khouzestan]], [[Zob Ahan FC]] and [[Esteghlal Ahvaz]] have all shown they can compete, even though they are not based in [[Tehran]]. The league can only continue to get better, and many are hoping this league will help Iran's football, in terms of quality and reputation improve.


===Persian Gulf Cup===
[[Muqtada al-Sadr]], who is 43 years Sistani's junior and the head of an independent militia known as the [[Mahdi Army|Mahdi army]], has risen to prominence in the course of 2004 and his military activities have undermined Sistani's influence. Muqtada al-Sadr launched an attempt to fight what he perceives as the "oppressive foreign forces" in the holy city of Najaf while Sistani was out of the country.
On [[August 12]], [[2006]], the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the name of the league once again. The name of the league now is the '''[[Persian Gulf]] Cup'''.<ref>{{cite web
|title={{fa icon}} برنامه‌ي كامل دور رفت ششمين دوره‌ي ليگ برتر فوتبال؛ ليگ برتر به «خليج فارس» تغيير نام داد
|url=http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-769028&Lang=P
|publisher=[[Iranian Students' News Agency|ISNA]]
|accessdate=2006-08-14
}}</ref>. This was done to promote the name of the Persian Gulf, instead of the incorrect variations which some nations and organizations use. The league logo was also changed, with the winner being selected from over 130 designs and unveiled on November 14, 2006.<ref>{{cite web
|title={{fa icon}}برترين طرح ارائه شده براي ليگ برتر انتخاب شد
|url=http://iriff.ir/news/files/show_news.asp?id=6641&rc=3
|publisher=[[IRIFF|IRIFF Official Website]]
|accessdate=2006-11-24
}}</ref>


==Alltime Premier League standings==
Shortly after the American invasion began, Sistani issued [[fatwa]]s calling on Shia clergy to get involved in politics to guide masses towards what he sees as "the clearer decisions", and to fight what he sees as "media propaganda".
However, as the summer of 2003 approached, Sistani became more involved, though always through representatives, never directly. He began to call for the formation of a constitutional convention, and later demanded a direct vote for the purpose of forming a [[Iraqi Transitional Government|transitional government]], seeing this as a sure path to Shia dominance over [[Iraqi government|Iraq's government]], since most observers say that Shia make up about 60% of Iraq's population. Subsequently, Sistani has criticized American plans for an Iraqi government as not being [[democratic]] enough.


Since the [[Iran Premier League (2001-2002)|2001-2002]] season, IPL/Persian Gulf Cup has had 7 seasons completed. The table below shows alltime statistics of all teams attended in the 7 seasons held.
Sistani's edicts and rulings have provided many Iraqi Shia religious backing for participating in the [[Iraqi legislative election, January 2005|January 2005 elections]] -- he urged, in a statement on October 1, 2004, that the people should realize that this was an "important matter" and he also hoped that the elections would be "free and fair .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. with the participation of all Iraqis". He issued fatwa telling women they were religiously obligated to vote, even if their husbands had forbidden them to do so.<ref>Rod Nordland, "The Cities Were Not Bathed in Blood", ''Newsweek'', February 9, 2005, www.msnbc.com/id/6887461/site/newsweek. </ref> "Truly, women who go forth to the polling centers on election day are like [[Zaynab bint Ali|Zaynab]], who went forth to [[Battle of Karbala|Karbala]]."<ref>Ahmed H. al-Rahim, "The Sistani Factor", ''Journal of Democracy'', 16, 3 (July 2005), p.51</ref>
He has consistently urged the Iraqi Shia not to respond in kind to attacks from Sunni [[Salafist]]s, which have become common in [[Sunni]]-dominated regions of Iraq like the area known as the "[[Triangle of Death (Iraq)|Triangle of Death]]", south of [[Baghdad]]. Even after the destruction of the Shia Askariya shrine in Samarra in February 2006, his network of clerics and preachers continued to urge calm and told their followers that "it was not their Sunni neighbors who were killing them but foreign `[[Wahhabi]]s.`" <ref>Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, (2006), p.178</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
An alleged plot to assassinate Sistani was foiled on [[January 29]], 2007 when three [[Jund al-Samaa]] [[gunmen]] were captured at a [[hotel]] near his office. It is believed to have been part of a larger attack against a number of targets in Najaf.<ref name="iraqslogger">{{cite web |date= 06/03/2007 2:17 PM ET|url = http://www.iraqslogger.com/index.php/post/3052/Messianic_Shia_Cult_Emerges_in_Southern_Iraq|title = Messianic Shia Cult Emerges in Southern Iraq|format = HTML |publisher = [http://www.iraqslogger.com www.iraqslogger.com]| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last=ZEYAD KASIM}}</ref>
|style="text-align:left"|Rank <br>||Team <br>||Years <br>||P <br>||W <br>||D <br>||L <br>||FG <br>||AG <br>||GD <br>||Points <br>||Best Rank <br>
|-
|'''1'''
|style="text-align:left"| '''[[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]'''
|'''8'''
|'''209'''
|'''95'''
|'''72'''
|'''42'''
|'''306'''
|'''213'''
|'''+93'''
|'''357'''
|'''Champions'''
|-
| 2
|style="text-align:left"| [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|8||209||95||68||46||305||215||+90||'''353'''
|'''Champions'''
|-
| 3
|style="text-align:left"| [[Sepahan]] ||8||208||86||61||60||283||218||+65||'''318'''
|'''Champions'''
|-
| 4
|style="text-align:left"| [[F.C. Zob Ahan|Zob Ahan]] ||8||209||85||62||62||252||211||+41||'''317'''||2nd
|-
| 5
|style="text-align:left"| [[F.C. Aboomoslem|Aboomoslem]] ||8||209||70||71||70||230||215||+12||'''280'''||4th
|-
| 6
|style="text-align:left"| [[Pas F.C.| Pas Tehran]] ||6||168||72||58||38||263||181||+82||'''274'''
|'''Champions'''
|-
| 7
|style="text-align:left"| [[Saipa F.C.|Saipa]] ||8||207||66||74||68||224||223||+1||'''272'''
|'''Champions'''
|-
| 8
|style="text-align:left"| [[Foolad F.C.|Foolad]] ||7||174||71||54||49||202||180||+22||'''267'''
|'''Champions'''
|-
| 9
|style="text-align:left"| [[F.C. Fajr Sepasi|Fajr Sepasi]] ||8||209||58||81||70||194||211||-17||'''255'''||4th
|-
| 10
|style="text-align:left"| [[Bargh Shiraz F.C.|Bargh Shiraz]] ||8||208||59||71||78||229||286||-57||'''247'''||7th
|-
| 11
|style="text-align:left"| [[Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.|Esteghlal Ahvaz]] ||7||183||62||58||63||242||246||-4||'''244'''||2nd
|-
| 12
|style="text-align:left"| [[Paykan F.C.|Paykan]] ||7||179||61||49||69||194||201||-9||'''232'''||5th
|-
| 13
|style="text-align:left"| [[Malavan FC|Malavan]] ||7||183||50||60||73||159||207||-48||'''205'''||7th
|-
| 14
|style="text-align:left"| [[Saba Battery FC|Saba Battery]] ||5||131||42||50||39||148||147||+1||'''176'''||3th
|-
| 15
|style="text-align:left"| [[Rah Ahan F.C.|Rah Ahan]] ||4||101||23||35||43||109||139||-30||'''104'''||12th
|-
| 16
|style="text-align:left"| [[Pegah Gilan F.C.|Pegah Gilan]] ||4||97||21||32||44||77||131||-54||'''95'''||9th
|-
| 17
|style="text-align:left"| [[Mes Kerman F.C.|Mes Kerman]] ||3||71||23||23||24||79||79||0||'''89'''||9th
|-
| 18
|style="text-align:left"| [[Shemushack Noshahr F.C.|Shamooshack]] ||3||86||16||26||44||64||121||-57||'''74'''||14th
|-
| 19
|style="text-align:left"| [[Sanat Naft F.C.|Sanat Naft]] ||2||60||15||16||29||62||80||-18||'''61'''||13th
|-
| 20
|style="text-align:left"| [[Pas Hamedan]] ||2||40||13||18||10||42||39||+3||'''57'''||5th
|-
| 21
|style="text-align:left"| [[Shirin Faraz Kermanshah|Shirin Faraz]] ||1||34||3||12||19||25||59||-34||'''21'''||18th
|-
| 22
|style="text-align:left"| [[Tarbiat Badani Yazd F.C.|Shahid Ghandi]] ||1||30||4||7||19||21||43||-22||'''19'''||16th
|-
| 23
|style="text-align:left"| [[Esteghlal Rasht]] ||1||26||3||7||16||18||44||-26||'''16'''||13th
|-
| 24
|style="text-align:left"| [[Teraktor Sazi]] ||1||26||2||9||15||12||36||-24||'''15'''||14th
|-
| 25
|style="text-align:left"| [[Payam Mashhad]] ||1||6||0||2||4||4||7||-4||'''2'''||17th
|}


'''Successful Teams'''
=== Al-Jazeera's insults against Sistani ===


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
In May 2007, hundreds of angry Shias demonstrated in [[Basra]] and [[Najaf]] against what they considered to be insults against Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani by TV presenter Ahmed Mansour and [[Qatar]]i [[Al-Jazeera]] television. In the TV show, "Without Borders," or [[Bela Hodod]] Mansour had sounded skeptical of al-Sistani's leadership credentials, and adopted a dismissive tone while directing questions about the Iranian-born cleric to his guest, Shiite cleric Jawad al-Khalsi.
|style="text-align:left"|
|-
!Team
!Champions
!Second-place
!Third-place
!Fourth-place
|-
|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=gold| [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''2''' ([[Iran Premier League (2001-2002)|2001-2002]], [[Persian Gulf Cup (2007-2008)|2007-2008]])
| -
|2 ([[Iran Premier League (2002-2003)|2002-2003]],[[Persian Gulf Cup (2006-2007)|2006-2007]])
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2004-2005)|2004-2005]])
|-
|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=gold| [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''1''' ([[Iran Premier League (2005-2006)|2005-2006]])
|2 ([[Iran Premier League (2001-2002)|2001-2002]],[[Iran Premier League (2003-2004)|2003-2004]])
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2004-2005)|2004-2005]])
|1 ([[Persian Gulf Cup (2006-2007)|2006-2007]])
|-
|style="text-align:left;" bgcolor=gold| [[Pas F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''1''' ([[Iran Premier League (2003-2004)|2003-2004]])
|2 ([[Iran Premier League (2002-2003)|2002-2003]],[[Iran Premier League (2005-2006)|2005-2006]])
| -
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2001-2002)|2001-2002]])
|-
|bgcolor=gold style="text-align:left;"|[[Sepahan]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''1''' ([[Iran Premier League (2002-2003)|2002-2003]])
|1 ([[Persian Gulf Cup (2007-2008)|2007-2008]])
| -
| -
|-
|bgcolor=gold style="text-align:left;"|[[Foolad F.C.|Foolad]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''1''' ([[Iran Premier League (2004-2005)|2004-2005]] )
| -
|2 ([[Iran Premier League (2001-2002)|2001-2002]],[[Iran Premier League (2003-2004)|2003-2004]])
| -
|-
|bgcolor=gold style="text-align:left;"| [[Saipa F.C.|Saipa]]
|bgcolor=gold|'''1''' ([[Persian Gulf Cup (2006-2007)|2006-2007]])
| -
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2005-2006)|2005-2006]])
| -
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[F.C. Zob Ahan|Zob Ahan]]
| -
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2004-2005)|2004-2005]])
| -
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2003-2004)|2003-2004]])
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.|Esteghlal Ahvaz]]
| -
|1 ([[Persian Gulf Cup (2006-2007)|2006-2007]])
| -
| -
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[Saba Battery FC]]
| -
| -
|1 ([[Persian Gulf Cup (2007-2008)|2007-2008]])
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2005-2006)|2005-2006]])
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[F.C. Fajr Sepasi|Fajr Sepasi]]
| -
| -
| -
|1 ([[Iran Premier League (2002-2003)|2002-2003]])
|-
|style="text-align:left;"| [[F.C. Aboomoslem|Aboomoslem]]
| -
| -
| -
|1 ([[Persian Gulf Cup (2007-2008)|2007-2008]])
|}


==Competition format and sponsorship==
[[Ahmed Mansour]] contended that al-Sistani, who is in his late 70s, was not aware of what's happening in Iraq and that his edicts were written and released by his aides. At another point, he asked whether the United States was using Iraqi politicians as well as al-Sistani to promote its own interests in Iraq.<ref name="IHT">{{cite web |date=Published: May 4, 2007|url = http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/04/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Al-Jazeera.php|title = Iraqi Shiites protest against Al-Jazeera's "insults" against top cleric|format = HTML |publisher = [[International Herald Tribune]]| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last= [[Associated Press|AP]]}}</ref>
=== Competition===
There are 18 clubs in the league. The season lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 34 games for each club, with a total of 306 games in each season. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then [[goal difference]] and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned as champion. The two teams at the bottom of the IPL and top of the [[Azadegan League]] play in a series of playoffs with return legs, the two teams out of the four that come out of those games victorious will be promoted or remain (if previously there) in the IPL.


====Qualification for Asian competitions====
As of 2008 four teams from [[Iran]] qualify for the [[AFC Asian Champions League]] annually. This includes the top three teams of the IPL together with the winner of the [[Hazfi Cup]]. If the winner of the Hazfi Cup is also among the three top IPL teams then the fourth best IPL team also qualifies.


===Sponsorship===
==== Hacking Sistani's website ====
Since the founding of the IPL in 2001 the league has had no [[private sector]] sponsorship, but rather the league has been fully funded by the [[Politics of Iran|Iranian government]].
[[Image:Sistani's Police Escort into Najaf.jpg|thumb|300px|Sistani's motorcade enters the city of [[Najaf]].]]


==Media coverage==
In 18 September 2008 hackers have attacked hundreds of Shiite websites including Shia Islam's most popular site linked to the community's leader in Iraq Ayatollah sistani,hackers from 'group-xp', linked to [[Wahhabis]], have attacked 300 Shi'a Internet sites including [[The Aalulbayt (a.s.) Global Information Center|Al-Beit]], the biggest Shi'a website in the world.
[[Channel 3 (Iran)|Channel 3]] broadcasted nationally and [[IRIB 2]] broadcasted internationally both show IPL matches, however due to the immense popularity of [[Tehran]] teams [[Persepolis F.C.]] and [[Esteghlal F.C.]] only these teams' matches are shown on [[IRIB 2]] internationally. Clubs do not receive any income whatsoever from TV rights as both the clubs and [[IRIB]] are both government-owned, this is often associated with the poor profitability of football clubs in [[Iran]].


==Players==
Sistani website as well website linked to the Al-Beit foundation of Ayatollah Sistani were hacked, it was the "largest Wahhabi hacker attack" in recent years.
===Transfer season===
* The summer transfer season for teams in the '''Persian Gulf Cup''' lasts from [[June 18]] to 12pm on [[August 8]].
* The winter transfer season for teams in the '''Persian Gulf Cup''' lasts from [[December 31]] to 12pm on [[January 20]].


===Foreigner cap===
Visitors to the targeted site see a banner bearing the slogan "group-xp" in red with a message in Arabic denouncing Shiite beliefs and officials and they placed a video of comedian [[Bill Maher]] making fun of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and his advice to the Shi'a muslims. "Group-xp" is based in the [[United Arab Emirates]] and is linked to Wahhabi Muslims who follow a strict form of Sunni Islam
Each team is allowed as many foreign players in their squad as they desire, however there is a rule that only permits 3 foreign players the pitch at any one time for each side. In the past there have been breaches of this rule and in the [[Persian Gulf Cup (2006-2007)|2006/07]] season [[PAS Tehran F.C.]] were deducted 1 point for fielding 4 foreigners on one occasion and handed a 3-0 loss.


Also as of the [[Persian Gulf Cup 2008-09|2008-09]] season no IPL clubs will be permitted to buy foreign goalkeepers in a bid to develop the talents of [[Iran]]ian goalkeepers and allow younger goalkeepers to have more first team opportunities. However the teams which have already got long term contracts with foreign goalkeepers will be exempt from this rule.
.<ref name="IHT">{{cite web |date=Published: September 20, 2008|url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/09/iraq-the-ayatol.html|title = IRAQ: The ayatollah gets hacked|format = HTML |publisher = [[Los Angeles Times]]| accessdate = 2008-09-20}}</ref>


===Suspensions===
Players receive a one match suspension when they receive 3 yellow cards at any point of the season.


==Persian Gulf Cup clubs==
===Persian Gulf Cup members for 2007-08===
The following eighteen clubs will be competing in the Persian Gulf Cup during the 2007-08 season.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Club<br />
!Finishing position<br />in [[Persian Gulf Cup (2006-2007)|2006-07]]
!First season in<br //>IPL
!First season of<br />current spell in<br />IPL
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[F.C. Aboomoslem|Aboomoslem]]||6th||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Bargh Shiraz F.C.|Bargh Shiraz]]||12th||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.|Esteghlal Ahvaz]]||2nd||2002&ndash;03||2002&ndash;03
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal Tehran]]||4th||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Malavan F.C.|Malavan]]||14th||2001&ndash;02||2004&ndash;05
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Mes Kerman F.C.|Mes Kerman]]||9th||2006&ndash;07||2006&ndash;07
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Moghavemat Shiraz F.C.|Moghavemat Shiraz]]||10th||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[PAS Hamedan F.C.|PAS Hamedan]]||N/A||2007&ndash;08||2007&ndash;08
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Paykan F.C.|Paykan]]||7th||2001&ndash;02||2006&ndash;07
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Pegah F.C.|Pegah]]||1st in [[Azadegan League]] (play-off winner)||2003&ndash;04||2007&ndash;08
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]||3rd||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Rah Ahan F.C.|Rah Ahan]]||16th||2005&ndash;06||2005&ndash;06
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Saba Battery F.C.|Saba Battery]]||13th||2004&ndash;05||2004&ndash;05
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Saipa F.C.|Saipa]]||1st||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Sanat Naft F.C.|Sanat Naft]]||[[Azadegan League]] (automatic promotion)||2007&ndash;08||2007&ndash;08
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]]||5th||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Shirin Faraz F.C.|Shirin Faraz]]||[[Azadegan League]] (play-off winner)||2007&ndash;08||2007&ndash;08
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[F.C. Zob Ahan|Zob Ahan]]||8th||2001&ndash;02||2001&ndash;02
|-
|}


== League champions ==
==Views==
{{main|Iranian football champions}}
===Wilayat al-faqih===
===Local Leagues===
Like his predecessor [[Grand Ayatollah]] [[Abul-Qasim al-Khoei]], Al-Sistani does not share the definition of the doctrine of ''[[Guardianship of the jurists (doctrine)|wilayat al-faqih]]'' (the authority of jurists) supported by Ayatollah Khomeini and Iran's current supreme leader Ayatollah [[Khamenei]]. Sistani's web site says,
* '''1960''' [[Shahin F.C.]]
* '''1961''' Not Held
* '''1963''' [[Daraei F.C.]]
* '''1964''' to '''1966''' Not Held
* '''1967''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
* '''1968''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
* '''1969''' Not Held
* '''1970''' [[Esteghlal F.C.|Taj]]


* '''1971''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
<blockquote>'''Question''' : What is Grand Ayatollah Sistani's opinion about Wilayat-e Faqih (governance of jurist)?<br />
'''Answer''' : Every jurisprudent ([[Faqih]]) has wilayah (guardianship) over non-litigious affairs. Non-litigious affairs are technically called ''al-omour al-hesbiah''. As for general affairs with which social order is linked, wilayah of a Faqih and enforcement of wilayah depend on certain conditions one of which is popularity of acceptability of Faqih among majority of [[Mu'min|momeneen]].<ref>[http://www.sistani.org/html/eng/menu/4/?lang=eng&view=d&code=221&page=1 Ali al-Sistani's Web page on fiqh and beliefs]</ref></blockquote>


===Takht Jamshid Cup===
Instead of rule by Islamic clerics or `The Quran as constitution`, Sistani is said to favor the providing of values and guidelines for social order (''nizam al-mujama'') as the role of Islam..<ref>Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, 2006, p.173 </ref>
* '''1973''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
* '''1974''' [[Esteghlal F.C.|Taj]]
* '''1975''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
* '''1976''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
* '''1977''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
* '''1978''' Not Completed Due to Revolution


===1980s===
A reflection of his reluctance to become involved in politics is that despite his disagreements with Iran's ruling clerics, Sistani has reportedly "never tried to promote a rivalry" between his religious center of [[Najaf]] and the Iranian center in [[Qom]]. Never made any comments about the confrontations between reformists and conservatives in Qom or between clerics in Lebanon.<ref>Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, 2006, p.172 </ref>
* '''1979-1989''' No national League Competition only Espandi Cup in 1979 and provincial leagues throughout the 1980s.


===[[Qods League]]===
==Works==
* '''1989-1990''' [[Esteghlal F.C.]]
===Books===
* Current Legal Issues
* A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West
* Hajj Rituals
* Islamic Laws
* Jurisprudence Made Easy
* Contemporary Legal Rulings in Shi'i Law


===Azadegan League===
*32 other books are not yet translated to English.<ref>[http://sistani.org/local.php?modules=nav&nid=2 Works of Sayyid Al al-Sistani]</ref>
* '''1991-1992''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
===Internet===
* '''1992-1993''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
With the establishment of [[The Aalulbayt (a.s.) Global Information Center]], he has become "the electronic grand ayatollah par excellence". <ref name="atimesAug312005">{{cite web |date=[[August 31]], [[2005]]|url = http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GH31Ak03.html|title = Sistani.Qom: In the wired heart of Shi'ism|format = HTML |publisher = [http://www.atimes.com Asian Times Online]| accessdate = 2007-08-21 | last= Pepe Escobar }}</ref>
* '''1993-1994''' [[Saipa F.C.]]
* '''1994-1995''' [[Saipa F.C.]]
* '''1995-1996''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
* '''1996-1997''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
* '''1997-1998''' [[Esteghlal F.C.]]
* '''1998-1999''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
* '''1999-2000''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
* '''2000-2001''' [[Esteghlal F.C.]]


===IPL===
==References==
* '''2001-2002''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
<!-- ------------------------------------------------------------
* '''2002-2003''' [[Sepahan F.C.]]
As per Wiki policy all external links should be in <ref> form.
* '''2003-2004''' [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a
* '''2004-2005''' [[Foolad F.C.]]
discussion of different citation methods and how to generate
* '''2005-2006''' [[Esteghlal F.C.]]
footnotes using the <ref name=autogenerated1>, </ref> and <reference /> tags
* '''2006-2007''' [[Saipa F.C.]]
------------------------------------------------------------- -->
* '''2007-2008''' [[Persepolis F.C.]]
'''Notes'''<br>
1. [[Esteghlal F.C.|Taj]] changed its name to [[Esteghlal F.C.]] in 1979.<br>
2. [[Shahin F.C.]] changed its name to [[Persepolis F.C.]] in 1968, which in turn changed to [[Piroozi]] in 1986; but the 'old' name Persepolis is still used in preference to Piroozi in Iran.<br>
3. [[Azadegan League]] is now the name of the 2nd highest division in Iran, only the IPL is higher.


==Total Championships==
{{reflist|2}}
The number of national championships that clubs in Iran have attained. '''(Since 1973)'''
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Club<br />
!Winner <br />
!Runner Up
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Persepolis F.C.]]||8||7
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Esteghlal F.C.]]||5||5
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]||5||3
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Saipa F.C.]]||3||0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Sepahan F.C.]]||1||1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Foolad F.C.]]||1||0
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Bahman F.C.]]||0||2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[FC Zob Ahan]]||0||1
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Esteghlal Ahvaz]]||0||1
|}

== Ranking ==
The strongest National League in the World 2007:<ref>{{cite web
|title={{en icon}}The strongest National League in the World 2007
|url=http://www.iffhs.de/?b6e28fa3002f71504e52d17f7370eff3702bb1c2bb0f
|publisher=[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]]
|accessdate=
}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Rank!!Name!!Points
|-
|40
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Slovakia}} [[Slovak Superliga|Slovakia]] ||351,5
|-
|41
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Nigeria }} [[Nigerian Premier League|Nigeria]] ||346,0
|-
|42
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} '''Iran'''||344,0
|-
|43
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Israel }} [[Ligat ha'Al|Israel]] ||341,5
|-
|44
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Primera División de Costa Rica|Costa Rica]] ||341,0
|-

|}

==Top scorers==
{{see also|List of Iranian club football top goal scorers}}

===All-time top scorers in Iranian Top Division===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Rank!!Player!!Years!!Goals
|-
|1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Edmond Bezik]]||1994-2006||84
|-
|2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ali Asghar Modir Roosta]]||1991-2003||82
|-
|3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Reza Enayati]]||2001-2006||80
|-
|4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ali Daei]]||1994-1996, 2003-2007||72
|-
|5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Fereydoon Fazli]]||2001-2002, 2003-Present||71
|-
|6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Reza Sahebi]]||1989-2003||67
|-
|7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Rasoul Khatibi]]||1997-1999, 2000-2006||66
|-
|8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Gholam Hossein Mazloumi]]||1971-1979||63
|-
|9
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mohsen Garousi]]||1989-2002||61
|-
|10
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Behnam Seraj]]||1996-2004||59
|-
|11
|style="text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mohammad Momeni]]||1989-2003||58
|-
|colspan="3"|<small>Includes when [[Azadegan League]] and [[Takht Jamshid Cup]] were Top Division<ref>{{cite web
|title={{fa icon}}شهريار به‌ بزيک، مديرروستا و عنايتى‌ نرسيد على‌ دايى‌ در 72 متوقف‌ شد |url=http://khabars.net/Detail.aspx?cid=111125&catid=468&iid=2336
|publisher=[http://khabars.net Khabar Varzeshi Official Website]
|accessdate=2007-05-30
}}</ref>
|}

===All-time top scorers in Iran Pro League===
:''See main article:[[List of IPL all-time top goal scorers]]''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Rank!!Player!!Goals
|-
| 1
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Reza Enayati]]||80
|-
| 2
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Fereydoon Fazli]]||60
|-
| 3
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mehdi Rajabzadeh]]||51
|-
| 4
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ali Daei]]||48
|-
| 5
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Abbas Aghaei]]||44
|-
| 6
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Rasoul Khatibi]]||42
|-
| 7
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mohsen Khalili]]||35
|-
| 8
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Arash Borhani]]||35
|-
| 9
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mohsen Bayatinia]]||34
|-
| 10
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Javad Kazemian]]||34
|-
| 11
|style="text-align:left"|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Javad Nekounam]]||33
|-
|colspan="3"|<small>Includes only Iran Pro League since its establishment in 2001 as Top Division
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Azadegan League|Azadegan League (1st Division)]]
*[[Grand Ayatollahs]]
*[[Iran Football's 2nd Division|2nd Division]]
*[[List of Marjas]]
*[[Iran Football's 3rd Division|3rd Division]]
*[[Grand Ayatollah Modarresi]]
*[[Hazfi Cup]]
*[[Grand Ayatollah Bashir Najafi]]
*[[Iranian Super Cup]]
*[[List of foreign IPL players]]
*[[Takht Jamshid Cup]]
*[[Navad]]
*[[Fars Province League]]
*[[Isfahan Province League]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.persianfootballcenter.com/ Persian Football center (PFC)] The Hard Talking, Hard Hitting Iranian Soccer Site aligned to Persian Gulf Task Force. We Expose Corruption in Iranian Football.
<!-- ------------------------------------------------------------
*[http://www.iranfootballonline.com/ Iran Football Online (IFO)] All Statistics - Daily News- Entertainment and MultiMedia - Live Sports Radio
As per Wiki policy all external links should be in <ref> form.
*[http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/gb/ifp Iranian Football Page] (est. 1996) The oldest Iranian Football Discussion Board on the web.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a
*[http://www.havadarha.com/ Havadarha - Iran Football Fans' Website]
discussion of different citation methods and how to generate
*[http://www.iriff.ir/ IRIFF - Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation]
footnotes using the <ref name=autogenerated1 /> and <reference /> tags
*[http://www.iplstats.com/ Iran Pro League Statistics]
------------------------------------------------------------- -->
*[http://www.irangoals.com/ Iran Goals]
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.iransportspress.com/ Iran Sports Press]
*[http://www.sistani.org/ Ayatollah Sistani's Official Web site (English, French, Urdu, فارسي , Türkçe , عربي)]
*[http://www.al-khoei.org/ Al-Khoei Benevolent Foundation]
*[http://www.parsfootball.com/ Pars Football]
*[http://www.persianleague.com/ Persian Football League]
*[http://www.persianfootball.com/ PFDC - Persian Football Dot Com]
*[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iranchamp.html RSSSF database about Iranian league football.]
*[http://www.teammelli.com/ TMDC - Team Melli Dot Com]
*[http://www.irfo.ir/ IRFO - Iranian FIFA Online]
*[http://www.irfo.ir/post/survey_iranian-premier-league An Online Survey on Iranian Premiere Football League]
* {{fa icon}} [http://www.zoodi.com/vrzsh.html Directory of Iranian Football Websites] - Links

{{fb start}}
{{IPL}}
{{fb end}}
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{{Football in Iran}}
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{{Iranian_football_league_champions}}
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{{AFC Leagues}}
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[[Category:Iranian football competitions|Premier Football League]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sistani, Ali al-}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:National football (soccer) premier leagues]]
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2001 establishments]]
[[Category:Iranian ayatollahs]]
[[Category:All-time football league tables]]
[[Category:Iranian religious leaders]]
[[Category:Football (soccer) records and statistics]]
[[Category:Iraqi ayatollahs]]
[[Category:Iraqi religious leaders]]
[[Category:People from Mashhad]]


[[de:Iranian Pro League]]
[[ar:علي السيستاني]]
[[fa:جام خلیج فارس]]
[[da:Ali al-Sistani]]
[[fr:Championnat d'Iran de football]]
[[de:Ali as-Sistani]]
[[hr:Prva iranska nogometna liga]]
[[es:Gran Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani]]
[[it:Campionato di calcio iraniano]]
[[fa:سید علی سیستانی]]
[[he:ליגת העל האיראנית]]
[[fr:Ali al-Sistani]]
[[ko:이란 프로 리그]]
[[ku:سيستانى]]
[[nl:Ali al-Sistani]]
[[nl:Iran Pro League]]
[[ja:アリー・スィースターニー]]
[[ja:イランサッカーリーグ]]
[[pt:Ali al-Sistani]]
[[sv:Iran Pro League]]
[[ru:Али Систани]]
[[tr:İran Pro Ligi]]
[[fi:Ali al-Sistani]]
[[sv:Ali al-Sistani]]
[[th:อัซซิซตานีย์]]

Revision as of 18:35, 11 October 2008

Persian Gulf Cup
File:Persian Gulf Cup logo.jpg
Founded2001
CountryIran
ConfederationAFC
Divisions1
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toAzadegan League
Domestic cup(s)Hazfi Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsPersepolis
(2007–08)
Most championshipsPersepolis
TV partnersIRIB
Current: 2008-09 season

The Iran Pro League (IPL) (Template:PerB, currently known as the Persian Gulf Cup (جام خلیج فارس) is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system.

The league system resembles the system being used in England currently. The Premier League is the top tier of an extensive pyramid-like structure, above the Azadegan League (or 1st Division), the 2nd division, the 3rd Division and the lower local leagues.

History

Pre-1970s

Before the early 1970's Iran did not have an official national league. Most teams would participate in city championships. Taj1 and Persepolis2 had become the two most popular teams in the mid 60s and continue to be in the present. Pas Tehran, Shahin, Taj, Daraei F.C., all won championships in the Tehran local league, during this period.

Takht Jamshid Cup

Main article: Takht Jamshid Cup

In 1972, the Takht Jamshid Cup was created. It was designed to include teams from all over the country, but as usual teams from Tehran dominated, mostly Pas Tehran, winning the final two. The league was in place until the Iranian Revolution took place, and the 1978 season was left uncompleted.

1980s

Due to the revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, football was no longer a priority. Clubs had very little money and due to political reasons team names, management and resources were changed. There was no major league competition during the 1980-89 period, only a few cup competitions and some local city league championships such as the 17th of Shahrivar league and the Qods Cup.In 1989 the Qods League was created and saw Esteghlal as its champion.

Azadegan League

In 1991 the Qods league was renamed the Azadegan League. Named the Azadegan League in honor of Iranian prisoners of war who were released, it began operations in the 1991-92 season. Pas Tehran was its first champion. For the first time in more than ten years Iran finally had a national league again. The number of teams playing in the league varied from year to year. Pas Tehran and Saipa dominated the league in the first four years. Pas Tehran and Esteghlal both were able to capture Asian Club Championships in the early 1990s. By the mid-90s Persepolis and Esteghlal regained their dominant form. The league championship every year between 1995-2001 was either Esteghlal or Persepolis. The two clubs always had the most talented players in Iran, the national team consisted mainly of Persepolis and Esteghlal players, and some of the greatest talents Iranian football has seen were discovered during this period.

File:Ipl200.png
IPL Logo (2001-2006)

Iran Pro League

The 2001-2002 season saw the beginning of the first professional football league in Iran. Unfortunately many say that the new league is professional in name only and is missing many of the required components of a pro league. Player salaries have risen significantly and other positives in the league are the emergence of provincial teams and raw talent which every IPL team boasts. Teams like Foolad Sepahan, Foolad Khouzestan, Zob Ahan FC and Esteghlal Ahvaz have all shown they can compete, even though they are not based in Tehran. The league can only continue to get better, and many are hoping this league will help Iran's football, in terms of quality and reputation improve.

Persian Gulf Cup

On August 12, 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the name of the league once again. The name of the league now is the Persian Gulf Cup.[1]. This was done to promote the name of the Persian Gulf, instead of the incorrect variations which some nations and organizations use. The league logo was also changed, with the winner being selected from over 130 designs and unveiled on November 14, 2006.[2]

Alltime Premier League standings

Since the 2001-2002 season, IPL/Persian Gulf Cup has had 7 seasons completed. The table below shows alltime statistics of all teams attended in the 7 seasons held.

Rank
Team
Years
P
W
D
L
FG
AG
GD
Points
Best Rank
1 Persepolis 8 209 95 72 42 306 213 +93 357 Champions
2 Esteghlal 8 209 95 68 46 305 215 +90 353 Champions
3 Sepahan 8 208 86 61 60 283 218 +65 318 Champions
4 Zob Ahan 8 209 85 62 62 252 211 +41 317 2nd
5 Aboomoslem 8 209 70 71 70 230 215 +12 280 4th
6 Pas Tehran 6 168 72 58 38 263 181 +82 274 Champions
7 Saipa 8 207 66 74 68 224 223 +1 272 Champions
8 Foolad 7 174 71 54 49 202 180 +22 267 Champions
9 Fajr Sepasi 8 209 58 81 70 194 211 -17 255 4th
10 Bargh Shiraz 8 208 59 71 78 229 286 -57 247 7th
11 Esteghlal Ahvaz 7 183 62 58 63 242 246 -4 244 2nd
12 Paykan 7 179 61 49 69 194 201 -9 232 5th
13 Malavan 7 183 50 60 73 159 207 -48 205 7th
14 Saba Battery 5 131 42 50 39 148 147 +1 176 3th
15 Rah Ahan 4 101 23 35 43 109 139 -30 104 12th
16 Pegah Gilan 4 97 21 32 44 77 131 -54 95 9th
17 Mes Kerman 3 71 23 23 24 79 79 0 89 9th
18 Shamooshack 3 86 16 26 44 64 121 -57 74 14th
19 Sanat Naft 2 60 15 16 29 62 80 -18 61 13th
20 Pas Hamedan 2 40 13 18 10 42 39 +3 57 5th
21 Shirin Faraz 1 34 3 12 19 25 59 -34 21 18th
22 Shahid Ghandi 1 30 4 7 19 21 43 -22 19 16th
23 Esteghlal Rasht 1 26 3 7 16 18 44 -26 16 13th
24 Teraktor Sazi 1 26 2 9 15 12 36 -24 15 14th
25 Payam Mashhad 1 6 0 2 4 4 7 -4 2 17th

Successful Teams

Team Champions Second-place Third-place Fourth-place
Persepolis 2 (2001-2002, 2007-2008) - 2 (2002-2003,2006-2007) 1 (2004-2005)
Esteghlal 1 (2005-2006) 2 (2001-2002,2003-2004) 1 (2004-2005) 1 (2006-2007)
Pas Tehran 1 (2003-2004) 2 (2002-2003,2005-2006) - 1 (2001-2002)
Sepahan 1 (2002-2003) 1 (2007-2008) - -
Foolad 1 (2004-2005 ) - 2 (2001-2002,2003-2004) -
Saipa 1 (2006-2007) - 1 (2005-2006) -
Zob Ahan - 1 (2004-2005) - 1 (2003-2004)
Esteghlal Ahvaz - 1 (2006-2007) - -
Saba Battery FC - - 1 (2007-2008) 1 (2005-2006)
Fajr Sepasi - - - 1 (2002-2003)
Aboomoslem - - - 1 (2007-2008)

Competition format and sponsorship

Competition

There are 18 clubs in the league. The season lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 34 games for each club, with a total of 306 games in each season. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned as champion. The two teams at the bottom of the IPL and top of the Azadegan League play in a series of playoffs with return legs, the two teams out of the four that come out of those games victorious will be promoted or remain (if previously there) in the IPL.

Qualification for Asian competitions

As of 2008 four teams from Iran qualify for the AFC Asian Champions League annually. This includes the top three teams of the IPL together with the winner of the Hazfi Cup. If the winner of the Hazfi Cup is also among the three top IPL teams then the fourth best IPL team also qualifies.

Sponsorship

Since the founding of the IPL in 2001 the league has had no private sector sponsorship, but rather the league has been fully funded by the Iranian government.

Media coverage

Channel 3 broadcasted nationally and IRIB 2 broadcasted internationally both show IPL matches, however due to the immense popularity of Tehran teams Persepolis F.C. and Esteghlal F.C. only these teams' matches are shown on IRIB 2 internationally. Clubs do not receive any income whatsoever from TV rights as both the clubs and IRIB are both government-owned, this is often associated with the poor profitability of football clubs in Iran.

Players

Transfer season

  • The summer transfer season for teams in the Persian Gulf Cup lasts from June 18 to 12pm on August 8.
  • The winter transfer season for teams in the Persian Gulf Cup lasts from December 31 to 12pm on January 20.

Foreigner cap

Each team is allowed as many foreign players in their squad as they desire, however there is a rule that only permits 3 foreign players the pitch at any one time for each side. In the past there have been breaches of this rule and in the 2006/07 season PAS Tehran F.C. were deducted 1 point for fielding 4 foreigners on one occasion and handed a 3-0 loss.

Also as of the 2008-09 season no IPL clubs will be permitted to buy foreign goalkeepers in a bid to develop the talents of Iranian goalkeepers and allow younger goalkeepers to have more first team opportunities. However the teams which have already got long term contracts with foreign goalkeepers will be exempt from this rule.

Suspensions

Players receive a one match suspension when they receive 3 yellow cards at any point of the season.

Persian Gulf Cup clubs

Persian Gulf Cup members for 2007-08

The following eighteen clubs will be competing in the Persian Gulf Cup during the 2007-08 season.

Club
 Finishing position
in 2006-07 		First season in
IPL 		First season of
current spell in
IPL
Aboomoslem 6th 2001–02 2001–02
Bargh Shiraz 12th 2001–02 2001–02
Esteghlal Ahvaz 2nd 2002–03 2002–03
Esteghlal Tehran 4th 2001–02 2001–02
Malavan 14th 2001–02 2004–05
Mes Kerman 9th 2006–07 2006–07
Moghavemat Shiraz 10th 2001–02 2001–02
PAS Hamedan N/A 2007–08 2007–08
Paykan 7th 2001–02 2006–07
Pegah 1st in Azadegan League (play-off winner) 2003–04 2007–08
Persepolis 3rd 2001–02 2001–02
Rah Ahan 16th 2005–06 2005–06
Saba Battery 13th 2004–05 2004–05
Saipa 1st 2001–02 2001–02
Sanat Naft Azadegan League (automatic promotion) 2007–08 2007–08
Sepahan 5th 2001–02 2001–02
Shirin Faraz Azadegan League (play-off winner) 2007–08 2007–08
Zob Ahan 8th 2001–02 2001–02

League champions

Main article: Iranian football champions

Local Leagues

Takht Jamshid Cup

1980s

  • 1979-1989 No national League Competition only Espandi Cup in 1979 and provincial leagues throughout the 1980s.

Qods League

Azadegan League

IPL

Notes
1. Taj changed its name to Esteghlal F.C. in 1979.
2. Shahin F.C. changed its name to Persepolis F.C. in 1968, which in turn changed to Piroozi in 1986; but the 'old' name Persepolis is still used in preference to Piroozi in Iran.
3. Azadegan League is now the name of the 2nd highest division in Iran, only the IPL is higher.

Total Championships

The number of national championships that clubs in Iran have attained. (Since 1973)

Club
 Winner
Runner Up
Persepolis F.C. 8 7
Esteghlal F.C. 5 5
Pas Tehran 5 3
Saipa F.C. 3 0
Sepahan F.C. 1 1
Foolad F.C. 1 0
Bahman F.C. 0 2
FC Zob Ahan 0 1
Esteghlal Ahvaz 0 1

Ranking

The strongest National League in the World 2007:[3]

Rank Name Points
40 Slovakia Slovakia 351,5
41 Nigeria Nigeria 346,0
42 Iran Iran 344,0
43 Israel Israel 341,5
44 Costa Rica Costa Rica 341,0

Top scorers

See also: List of Iranian club football top goal scorers

All-time top scorers in Iranian Top Division

Rank Player Years Goals
1 Iran Edmond Bezik 1994-2006 84
2 Iran Ali Asghar Modir Roosta 1991-2003 82
3 Iran Reza Enayati 2001-2006 80
4 Iran Ali Daei 1994-1996, 2003-2007 72
5 Iran Fereydoon Fazli 2001-2002, 2003-Present 71
6 Iran Reza Sahebi 1989-2003 67
7 Iran Rasoul Khatibi 1997-1999, 2000-2006 66
8 Iran Gholam Hossein Mazloumi 1971-1979 63
9 Iran Mohsen Garousi 1989-2002 61
10 Iran Behnam Seraj 1996-2004 59
11 Iran Mohammad Momeni 1989-2003 58
Includes when Azadegan League and Takht Jamshid Cup were Top Division[4]

All-time top scorers in Iran Pro League

See main article:List of IPL all-time top goal scorers
Rank Player Goals
1 Iran Reza Enayati 80
2 Iran Fereydoon Fazli 60
3 Iran Mehdi Rajabzadeh 51
4 Iran Ali Daei 48
5 Iran Abbas Aghaei 44
6 Iran Rasoul Khatibi 42
7 Iran Mohsen Khalili 35
8 Iran Arash Borhani 35
9 Iran Mohsen Bayatinia 34
10 Iran Javad Kazemian 34
11 Iran Javad Nekounam 33
Includes only Iran Pro League since its establishment in 2001 as Top Division

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "[[:Template:Fa icon]] برنامه‌ي كامل دور رفت ششمين دوره‌ي ليگ برتر فوتبال؛ ليگ برتر به «خليج فارس» تغيير نام داد". ISNA. Retrieved 2006-08-14. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  2. ^ "[[:Template:Fa icon]]برترين طرح ارائه شده براي ليگ برتر انتخاب شد". IRIFF Official Website. Retrieved 2006-11-24. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  3. ^ "[[:Template:En icon]]The strongest National League in the World 2007". IFFHS. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  4. ^ "[[:Template:Fa icon]]شهريار به‌ بزيک، مديرروستا و عنايتى‌ نرسيد على‌ دايى‌ در 72 متوقف‌ شد". Khabar Varzeshi Official Website. Retrieved 2007-05-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)

External links

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