The Tehran Derby ( Pers. شهرآورد تهران ), also known as the Red and Blue Derby ( Pers. شهرآورد سرخابی ) is the confrontation between the two leading football clubs in Tehran (the capital of Iran): Esteglal and Persepolis .
| Tehran Derby | |||
| شهرآورد تهران | |||
| 89 matches since 1968 | |||
| |||
 Tehran , Iran | |||
| Stadium: Azadi | |||
| Wins and Draws * | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Last match | |||
Iran Championship September 28, 2018 Esteglal 0-0 Persepolis | |||
| Upcoming match | |||
Iran Championship March 30, 2019 Persepolis - Esteglal * Data updated September 28, 2018. |
This rivalry was declared the most important derby in Asia and ranked 22nd among world football rivalries in the world in June 2008 according to World Soccer magazine [1] [2] [3] . It is also considered one of the most intense derby in the world [4] . Despite the fact that both teams represent Tehran, matches between them were held in other Iranian cities. During one season, Persepolis and Esteglal meet at least twice (within the framework of the Iranian championship ), in addition, they can play among themselves in the framework of the Iranian Cup , small tournaments and friendly matches. The longest long-running winning streak in the confrontation belongs to Esteglal and equals four matches (from 2010 to 2012, as part of the championship and the Iran Cup).
History
The first match between the two teams took place on April 5, 1968 at the Amjadiye stadium, which ended in a goalless draw. At that time, Esteglal was known as the Taj. Both clubs were relatively young, but Persepolis had a solid fan base, due to its close relationship with the once-popular Shahin club. The latter was forced to cease operations due to poor relations with the Iranian Football Federation . Thus, the former confrontation between Shahin and Taj revived in the rivalry between Persepolis and Esteglal.
Over time, the confrontation escalated, and club fans began to gain a collective identity. By the mid-1970s, Persepolis was seen as a working class club, while Taj was considered a club close to the ruling establishment and supported by the upper class of Iranian society. At that time, Persepolis fans outnumbered Esteglal fans.
Due to the intense nature of the matches, acts of violence by fans have occurred more than once. In insignificant cases, fans break chairs or throw garbage onto the field, but sometimes fans storm the playing field, fights break out between players and fans, and public property is destroyed.
Since 1995, the Iranian Football Federation has been inviting foreign referees to host derby matches to ease the suspicions of fans and players of the referee's bias. This happened after the events of the 38th derby, when the appointed penalty in the end led to unrest.
Azadi Stadium hosted most of the Tehran derby matches, which was also played at the Tehran Amjadiyah (now Shirudi) and at the Yadegar-e Emam Stadium in Tabriz .
Notes
- ↑ Worlds Greatest Derbies Neopr . bigsoccer.com.
- ↑ World Soccers' 50 Greatest Derbie . groups.google.com.
- ↑ World Soccers' 50 Greatest Derbies . nnseek.com. Archived February 10, 2011.
- ↑ http://90tv.ir/news/388304/ روزنامه-اسپانیایی-دربی-تهران-یکی-از-داغ-ترین-دربی-های-دنیا
Links
- The battle of Tehran FIFA
- "Football, blood and war" The Observer , 18 January 2004, accessed 11 October 2006
- "The Red 'Victors' and the 'Independent' Blues" FIFA Magazine, October 31, 2002, accessed October 11, 2006
- (pers.) "59 بازی حاصل 37 سال رقابت سرخ و آبی" (link unavailable) Fars News Agency , March 8, 2006, accessed October 11, 2006
- (pers.) "پرسپوليس ، استقلال از نگاه آمار" Aftab Yazd, March 8, 2006, accessed October 11, 2006
- (pers.) "در حاشيه ي بازيهاي سرخابي ازگذشته هاي دورتا امروز" Tebyan.net, 2 November 2005, accessed October 11, 2006
- Profile at Football derbies.com
- Statistics on Persepolis Official Website