Mehdi Taj

Mehdi Taj (Persian: مهدی تاج) is an Iranian sports executive who is the president of Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) since August 2022, serving his second and third terms. Since 2019, he has also served as one of five vice presidents of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). He has a history of serving in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Preceded byMirshad Majedi (acting)

Preceded byAli Kafashian

Succeeded byHeydar Baharvand (acting)

Preceded byGholamreza Behravan

Quick facts President of Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Preceded by ...

Mehdi Taj
مهدی تاج
Taj in 2019
President of Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 August 2022
Preceded by	Mirshad Majedi (acting)
In office 7 May 2016 – 29 December 2019
Preceded by	Ali Kafashian
Succeeded by	Heydar Baharvand (acting)
President of Iran Football League Organization
In office 28 October 2013 – 7 May 2016 Acting: 14 January – 28 October 2013
Preceded by	Gholamreza Behravan
Succeeded by	Ali Kazemi (acting)
Personal details
Born	(1960-01-20) January 20, 1960 (age 66)[1] Isfahan, Iran
Alma mater	University of Isfahan[citation needed]

Close

His first term as president of FFIRI was from 2016 until 2019. In May 2020, he was appointed a member of the AFC Emergency Committee.^[2]

He was previously First Vice President of FFIRI (2008–2012), President of the Iran Football League Organization (2013–2016), Secretary of the Board of Sepahan (1992–1994, 2002–2006) and president of the club (1994–1999), and Board Chairman of the Foolad Metil.^[3] He was also editor-in-chief of Jahan Varzesh from 1991 until 2001. On 7 May 2016, he was elected as president of FFIRI with 51 votes, succeeding Ali Kafashian.^[4][5] He resigned in December 2019 due to heart problems.^[2]

On 30 August 2022, Taj was elected as new president of FFIRI for a two-year term. Taj won the three-candidate race with 51 votes.^[6]