
For decades the two would have the cheering crowds jump up their seats in thrilling moments to encourage their favorite teams.
However, this time the mullahs' chief of police for greater Tehran, Brig. Gen. Ahmadreza Radan, went on state television prior to the match, threatening youths with serious consequences should they attempt to "break the law."
"We have made the necessary arrangements with Tehran's prosecutor's office, according to penal code 678, to deal swiftly with those breaking the law," added Radan.
Radan referring to threatening measures used before the soccer match to suppress any possible action on the part of the spectators said, "Before today's match, the police had a series of meeting with the supporting committees of both teams calling for their proper behavior in the stadium."
To make sure those entering the area have understood that the SSF chief means business, colonel Babai, commander of the Special Unit of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assigned to enforce the SSF's mandates in the stadium, personally interrogated a teenage before TV cameras. The juvenile allegedly was caught while trying to pass a canister through the tight security checks at the gates.
That explains the chill at Azadi Stadium despite a large turnout for the match.

