An Iranian lawmaker has sent a written warning to the sports minister, warning him against common manipulations in the elections of federation chairmen.

Abbas Moqtadaei, who is the deputy chair of the national security committee of the parliament, said on Tuesday that repeated delays in holding the election in the gymnastics federation have put it under the threat of suspension by international institutions.

He said that engineering the results of elections in sport federations has always been a problem in the country, and it is also reported under the current minister.

The elections in federations of boxing, shooting, basketball, taekwondo, skate, and some others have also caused controversy in recent months.

The mismanagement in Iran’s sport sector is not something new and has caused numerous problems for the sport community of the country, with many athletes leaving Iran to play for other countries.

Recently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) barred three top Iranian football clubs, including Persepolis and Esteghlal, from participating in the 2022 Asian Champions League tournament.

The AFC did not elaborate on the exact reasons behind the decision but said the clubs failed to meet the required licensing regulations that include issues such as timely submission of their documents or unpaid membership fees.