By Country / Iran
First-Ever Player Strike Hits Iran's Top Soccer Club
October 18, 2005
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18 October 2005 -- Players at Iran's top soccer team have gone on strike over unpaid wages, the first time that's ever happened in the Islamic republic.
Players at Persepolis Tehran have not been paid for months.
The team is sponsored by the government and the state sports organization is responsible for paying the players wages.
Team coach Ali Parvin says the players won't play until their wages are paid.
Iranian soccer officials accuse Parvin of urging the players to strike to justify the team's poor start to the season.
(dpa)