Full-fledged defense of Keyhan for Mehdi Taj: Brokers are spreading slander and mudslinging against him.
The newspaper managed by Hossein Shariatmadari wrote in its defense of Mehdi Taj:
A corrupt faction active in football has felt a great threat and is deeply frightened just by the promise of cleaning up football, which the new federation president has only talked about so far. This malicious faction is terrified by some rumors that have recently intensified in football circles, namely the high probability of the current national team coach being dismissed, which we have mentioned and written about many times before and will continue to write about as necessary. This coach is an undeniable symbol and embodiment of disgraceful and notorious brokerage in Iranian football. In a manner reminiscent of certain notorious brainless figures, using various tools and means, especially media and television tools, fake programs, and nights of brokerage, they have started their relentless and insane attack against the new federation president before some indifferent and out-of-touch national media managers.