AFC Champions league™ ¦ 2023 - 2024

[taremiscores]

I think The is saying that they won't profit financially from this.

THey're definitely spending money, and I'm happy they alone are going to raise the level of ACL and cause even Iranian officials to care a little to save face.

I still stand by the statement that they would be better off in their football investing in their youth systems, but this method will definitely get them attention and to their ultimate goal (hosting WC 2030).

To them, it's beyond football. It's to raise Saudi Arabia's profile like Dubai's profile has been raised. If we calculate it in dollars and cents from that perspective - they will definitely be in the greens. That's their goal and if we calculate the spillover effects - the marketing press they have received alone from these moves (even in the US), is insane and already benefitted them way beyond what they have spent.

Everyone thinks Saudi is the place to go to make money now and some of the world's best footballers will be playing there.

As I mentioned, they are already investing in their youth academies. One thing I noticed about being in Qatar, these Arabs (and whoever consults them) are doing things right. I was green with envy (as an Iranian).

[The]

You think a few billion will put a dent in the Saudi economy? It's nothing. These guys are thinking large and are trying to bolster their tourism (which they get ridiculous amounts just from religious pilgrimages alone) and using football to do that plus other projects that are mind-blowing.

Their league is already gaining traction globally. I wish IR invested in our football like this. Their Ministry of Sport has also put a lot into youth football like the SSDFT.

Iranian footballers and managers, latest being Yahya Golmohammadi, have applauded Saudi Arabia and also said that Iran is so far behind and we cannot compete with them. It's night and day.

Couple these short sided investments with other dumb shit that will never materialise like NEOM, the Line and the Cube, SA pouring money into this isn't sustainable. Eventually, they will have to stop haemorrhaging money on vanity projects like this. Everyone is dick riding SA right now because it's a hot new thing, but we have to wait an see where things are in a decade.

I much rather I.R invests much less money than SA smartly into football infrastructure like Uruguay, Morocco, etc... none of these countries need to spend the level of SA is spending to get great results.

There are much better things (Education, health care, environment, Telecom, etc...) to most of this spend money on.

[taremiscores]

Couple these short sided investments with other dumb shit that will never materialise like NEOM, the Line and the Cube, SA pouring money into this isn't sustainable. Eventually, they will have to stop haemorrhaging money on vanity projects like this. Everyone is dick riding SA right now because it's a hot new thing, but we have to wait an see where things are in a decade.

I much rather I.R invests much less money than SA smartly into football infrastructure like Uruguay, Morocco, etc... none of these countries need to spend the level of SA is spending to get great results.

There are much better things (Education, health care, environment, Telecom, etc...) to most of this spend money on.

Time will tell. We will see in 5-10 years (if it self-destructs sooner, than you will be proven right. If it's standing after 5-10 years, I will be right)

I agree with better ways to divert money, but IR doesn't do that either. They don't give a shit about Iran so no illusions there.

But Iranian players will benefit playing Saudi teams, so that's the good thing out of this. Just awaiting when Neymar steps foot in Nassaji's field with divots and holes. 🤣

[PEJ]

I visited Saudi Arabia around 15 years ago. Back then it was a backward thinking society that couldn’t hold a candle to the ambitious Emiratis and soon emerging Qataris. The transformation in their thinking within the last 15 years has been nothing short of amazing. They allowed women to drive. Hijab is not mandatory. And we look at the Iranian society that is trying to send its people back to the stone ages. What a shame.

[PSGman#19]

Didn't know Sharjah had Paco Alvarez and Pjanic. Alvarez could join KSA

[Hosseini]

I visited Saudi Arabia around 15 years ago. Back then it was a backward thinking society that couldn’t hold a candle to the ambitious Emiratis and soon emerging Qataris. The transformation in their thinking within the last 15 years has been nothing short of amazing. They allowed women to drive. Hijab is not mandatory. And we look at the Iranian society that is trying to send its people back to the stone ages. What a shame.

It's still a monarchy and dictatorship that genocided Yemen for ten years. Don't be fooled by symbolic gestures meant to just make the country a vapid tourist destination.

[Azmoun_shireh]

I visited Saudi Arabia around 15 years ago. Back then it was a backward thinking society that couldn’t hold a candle to the ambitious Emiratis and soon emerging Qataris. The transformation in their thinking within the last 15 years has been nothing short of amazing. They allowed women to drive. Hijab is not mandatory. And we look at the Iranian society that is trying to send its people back to the stone ages. What a shame.

It may look good on the outside but they're still just as backwards, as shown by the big EDM festival they held a few years ago where lots of flown-in influencers (men and women) were sexually assaulted by their public.

[allan123]

AL NASSR SIGNED OCTAVIO AND LAPORTE

AL NASSR IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH C.RONALDO,MANE, TALISCA, OCTAVIO AND LAPORTE

[oracle]

AL NASSR SIGNED OCTAVIO AND LAPORTE

AL NASSR IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH C.RONALDO,MANE, TALISCA, OCTAVIO AND LAPORTE

soooorakh sooooorakhshooon mikonim.

[Pejman]

AL NASSR SIGNED OCTAVIO AND LAPORTE

AL NASSR IS VERY DANGEROUS WITH C.RONALDO,MANE, TALISCA, OCTAVIO AND LAPORTE

Their best player is Seko Fofana.

I see Tractor have some decent foreigners like Ricardo Alves and Gustavo. Their Spanish coach attracted a Spanish winger. May be enough to see them through. UAE teams have problems when travelling to destinations like Iran and Uzbekistan, who are not very luxuriant like their cities.

Saudi and the other Arabs countries are worth visiting for their mountains and deserts, not for their malls

[PSGman#19]

Funny to see Pjanic in Tabriz

[Hosseini]

Anyone know where the champions league playoffs are being streamed? I didn't see it on the Paramount schedule for some reason - I guess they don't have the rights for the playoffs?

[Kian Persepolis]

Anyone know where the champions league playoffs are being streamed? I didn't see it on the Paramount schedule for some reason - I guess they don't have the rights for the playoffs?

I think for qualifiers they probably don't have all the games. I saw for UEFA CL qualifiers, they had like 2 of the games, but not the rest. I think they have the license but they probably just don't care. Or it's possible they don't have the license at all for qualifiers, and maybe paid individually for those few games?

If they don't end up broadcasting the game, IRIB3 or IRIB Varzesh is probably your best bet.

[PSGman#19]

Game today at 19.30 Iran time

[PSGman#19]

Less than 3 hours to the game, stadium is getting filled.

Pourhamidi gand nazan!