Iranian Football Clubs Eye Private Sector to Offset Budget Cuts

Governmental bodies are prohibited from owning teams in professional sports leagues, as per the country’s law that has been loosely implemented in recent years.
However, it seems that the deadline for the privatization of football clubs is around the corner. 
There are at least six fully state-run football clubs in the Iran Pro League, also known as the Persian Gulf Pro League. As the government has been banned from funding these clubs since the start of the current Iranian year (March 20), the clubs have no choice but to be transferred to private owners once the current IPL season (2019-20) is concluded.  
Three football clubs, namely Naft Masjed Soleyman Football Club based in Masjed Soleyman, Sanat Naft Abadan Football Club based in Abadan and Pars Jonoubi Jam based in Bushehr, are run by the Oil Ministry...