Strategies for Dealing with Financial Obstacles Impacting the Sports Success of Iranian Football Clubs in the Afc Champions League Elite

Abstract

This article presents strategies for dealing with financial obstacles impacting the sports success of Iranian football clubs in the AFC Champions League Elite. The last time an Iranian club won the Asian club championship was the 1992-1993 season when the Pass club won the tournament. Experts believe the clubs’ financial problems are the most evident reason for the lack of sports success. The strategies provided are not listed in order of importance, nor are they meant to be an exhaustive list. Instead, strategies are used to solve the financial obstacles of clubs. The results show that the most critical financial obstacles include lack of television broadcasting rights, ticket sales, commercial activities, hiring low-quality foreign players, price of VAR, state ownership, insufficient sports facilities, and debts of Iranian football in FIFA. Strategies related to these obstacles include a resolution to pay for television broadcast rights, more spectators, financial sponsors, and official agents, providing financial support by the government, buying VAR from federation revenues in FIFA, reconstruction and renovation of large stadiums, selling government clubs shares in the over-the-counter, and obliging clubs to pay the previous debts.