Former Thailand and Cameroon head coach Winfried Schafer has been appointed as the new manager of Iranian giants Esteghlal FC.

The 67-year-old German joins the two-time AFC Champions League (ACL) winners following a year out of the game since parting company with the Jamaican national team 12 months ago.

His move back into club management comes just a couple of weeks after ex-Thailand national coach Kiatisuk Senamuang parted ways with Thai side Port FC. 

Schafer succeeds former Balestier Central...

ZURICH -- FIFA has banned Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi from his team's first game at the World Cup.

FIFA says its disciplinary panel imposed a two-game suspension on the 21-year-old Ezatolahi for his red card against South Korea in a qualifying match in Seoul on Aug. 31.

Ezatolahi brought his boot down on the head of South Korea midfielder Kim Min-jae, who had fallen facing the turf after the two clashed in an aerial challenge.

The first game of Ezatolahi's suspension was served by missing a...

Sweden-born midfielder Saman Ghoddos has been called up for the first time by Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, but there is no place in the squad for veteran Masoud Shojaei.

Shojaei fell foul of Iranian authorities earlier this month when he played for his club side Panionios in the Europa League against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Iranian sportsmen are not permitted to compete against Israelis, with Iran not recognising Israel's right to exist. Reports previously suggested both Shojaei and Ehsan Hajsafi,...

Manchester United legend Park Ji-Sung has called upon South Korea fans to get behind their team against a "European" Iran in a vital 2018 AFC World Cup qualifier in Seoul on Aug. 31.

Coach Shin Tae-Yong called up English Premier League stars Son Heung-Min and Ki Sung-Yeung in his first squad on Monday. Games in the K-League have been cancelled on the weekend of Aug. 27 and 28 to give Shin more time with his players.

While Iran have already booked their spot in next year's tournament as they sit...