🔻Ali Dehqani, the head in charge of holding the international games of the Football Federation, today claimed in an interview with reporters that Azadi Stadium has no facilities and that only the stands have been renovated: “Requirements such as a mixed zone, a conference hall, referees’ rooms, medical, anti-doping, and VAR must be in place, which are not currently available. Also, in Azar or Dey, games can be held on the stadium’s field.”

🔹Dehqani said: “In addition to these, according to the new AFC rules, stadiums must have an area for TV broadcasting. Inside the stadium tunnel, the IRIB news/TV sound equipment cannot be stationed. This area has not yet been prepared at Azadi Stadium, and cabling has not been done.”

🔹In response to a question about the renovation of Azadi Stadium remaining unfinished, he said: “During this time, the stands have been renovated, seat installation has been done, safety measures have been put in place, they have fixed the sanitary facilities, brought the work to the standard point, and so that there are no old problems.”

🔹Dehqani said: “It could have been that the stadium would have collapsed with a 5.5-magnitude earthquake. The columns have been renovated and made safe. In terms of safety, the stadium’s lifespan has been increased by 30 to 40 years.”