Minavand ruled out of AFC Champions League

AFC - Pirouzi's chances of topping Group D of the AFC Champions League have been struck a last-minute blow with the exclusion of their most experienced player in this type of football.

While playing for Austrian side Sturm Graz, Iranian wing-back Mehrdad Minavand enjoyed UEFA Champions League victories over teams like Marseille and Monaco and played three times against Manchester United.

However, he has been declared ineligible for Group D action in Tashkent because Pirouzi were unable to provide an International Transfer Certificate ratifying the contract he signed two days before the deadline of February 9 when he returned to Tehran from a spell in the United Arab Emirates with Al Shabab.

Pirouzi have also travelled to Tashkent without two of their other returning heroes.

Karim Bagheri, the 1998 World Cup star who has had spells with England's Charlton Athletic and Qatar's Al Sadd, is believed to be injured, while it's thought the club were unable to agree terms with Iran midfielder Hamed Kavianpour on his return from playing in the United Arab Emirates.