[caption id="attachment_104684" align="alignright" width="182"] President of Iran Football Federation (IFF) Ali Kaffashian[/caption]

Head of Iran’s Football Federation (IFF) says the Asian Football Confederation has rejected Iran’s bid for hosting Asian Cup 2019.

Ali Kaffashian on Monday said the AFC’s decision to dismiss Iran’s bid for hosting the games may have been influenced by the sanctions currently imposed on the country.

The United Arab Emirates on Monday won the hosting rights of the Asian Cup 2019 in a competition with Iran. AFC chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said the UAE had won the right unanimously.

Kaffashian said Iran's infrastructure and sporting facilities met the standards set by the continental body for hosting the games in 2019.

“Our biggest problem was the issue of sponsoring…. The sanctions may have discouraged the sponsors from coming to Iran and the AFC’s decision was that UAE’s hosting could create more income [for it],” Kafashian said.

By Press TV