Iran Denies Entry To Korean Coach Ghotbi

GOAL - South Korea’s assistant coach Afshin Ghotbi will not be allowed to enter Iran for the team’s Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday night.

The 42 year-old was born in Iran but left in 1977. Five hours before the team’s scheduled departure, he was informed by the Iranian Embassy in Seoul that his American passport would not gain him entry to Iran and he would need an Iranian passport.

“I am disappointed –to say the least,” Ghotbi told Goal.com.

“I was looking forward to returning to my homeland. We always hope that politics and football are separated but in some parts of the world, that’s not the case.”

“I hope FIFA takes action against the Iranian Football Federation as I feel that it was responsible for me not being able to sit on the bench and do my job.”

Ghotbi will travel to Dubai and await the team’s arrival for a training camp ahead of the Asian Games at the end of November.

The Iranian ambassador to South Korea, Mr. Khan Beigi, refused to comment.

Both teams have already qualified for the continental competition and Korean head coach Pim Verbeek will use the game as a warm-up exercise for the Asian Games.

The Dutchman will be without both of his assistants as Hong Myung-bo is with the Olympic team in Japan.