TEHRAN Head of the Iranian Football Federation here Wednesday said that following the recent performance of the National Soccer Team, the Federation decided that despite the fact that Tomislav Ivic is an experienced and highly competent coach, he cannot demonstrate the needed efficiency in a short period of time. Consequently, his responsibility in the Iranian Soccer Team as the head coach was terminated and was delegated to Jalal Talebi, added Mohsen Safaie Farahani. He further told IRNA that the federation has always tried to let the committee of national teams as well as the head coach of the soccer team enjoy full independence and, therefore, has put all the required facilities at their disposal.

Safaei Farahani said Ivic is an experienced and highly qualified coach but in practice it became evident that he was unable to be effective in a short period of time. Therefore, we came to the conclusion that in the World Cup he cannot coach the Iranian team in a satisfactory manner, said the federation head. It has now been decided that the national team should be coached by an Iranian who is more familiar with players and their morale.

Apologizing the public for the national team's crushing defeat in its play against Italian As Roma last night, Safaei Farahani said, people must rest assured that we will not spare any effort to back up the national soccer team, a sign of which is replacing the head coach. He added that Iranian fans are highly sensitive about the result of football matches.

Therefore, the change was made as a sign of the federation's full knowledge of the people's sensitivity as well as recognition of its own responsibilities. He concluded by appreciating unsparing support of people and mass media for the national team and expressed the hope that with the grace of God, support of people, good management and hard work of the players, the team will in best of its abilities represent both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Asia. (IRNA)