Persepolis and the purchase of League One points; a strategic step or a legal necessity?

According to the Sports Economy Report, quoted by Tejarat News, Persepolis Sports Cultural Company has recently launched its plan to launch a “B” team by publishing a call for the purchase of a team’s points in the first division league (Azadegan Cup) and entering it into the Kodal system. This action, which was approved by the board of directors and proposed by the CEO, although at first glance it seems like a technical and development decision, has significant dimensions from the perspective of sports economy and Iranian football laws, which are discussed in this report.

It is finally paid.

 Is this action legally permissible?
 The key question in this matter is whether this action complies with football laws and the club's statutes. Based on the structure of Iranian football leagues, the presence of second or "B" teams of clubs in lower leagues is a new experience, but it has not come to fruition.
 Currently, the competition regulations of the Iranian Football League Organization do not explicitly create an obstacle for the participation of "B" teams in lower leagues (provided that they are not in the same group as the main team in the same league).

Therefore, given that Persepolis is in the Premier League, the club's "B" team can play in the First Division (Free League). This model is also common in many prestigious football countries in the world and is recognized as a sustainable development path for clubs.

 The history of this action in world football
 The use of second or "B" teams in the structure of national leagues is recognized as a vital infrastructure for developing talent and a bridge between the academy and the main team. As

For example, Barcelona recently approved a plan to completely merge the structure of its "B" team with the first team, so that the team could become a "reserve of talent" for the main team and prevent young players from leaving at low prices.
 Real Madrid, with its Castilla team at the lower levels, is a historical example in this regard. The club even recently spent €380,000 to maintain its C team's place in the fourth division (Segunda División). In England, Manchester City has also made an offer for

The entry of "B" teams into the lower leagues has been discussed many times, and the club's directors believe that this is a solution to the financial crisis of small clubs, as well as an opportunity to develop young players who would otherwise be lost to huge financial offers from German clubs.

 Domestic experience
 A review of Iran's experience in this field shows that Persepolis Club has launched a "B" team several times before; the first time was in 2009, when Persepolis "B" team was formed with Sarmer.

The late Mehrdad Minavand's Bigari was formed, which won the Tehran Provincial League and advanced to the Third Division League, but was dissolved in 2013 due to financial problems and the negligence of the management at the time. Also, in the 1980s, the club acquired a second team by purchasing the quota of the Delvar Afzar Reds Club, which was in the Azadegan League, and players such as Bahadur Abdi and Behnam Abolghasempour played for it.
 After that, renewed efforts were made in 2015 and 2017 to revive the "B" team, each time leading to D.

The managerial and financial struggle did not yield results, and now, with the recent call to purchase the franchise of a League One team, Persepolis Club is seeking to launch this project for the fourth time; however, experts believe that the success of this plan depends on the serious determination of management and the provision of sustainable financial resources, as previous experiences have shown that without continuous financial support, such projects are doomed to failure.
 Besides Persepolis, other major Iranian clubs have also had the experience of launching second teams.

It has been accompanied by financial and managerial ups and downs. For example, Esteghlal Club established Esteghlal “B” team in 2014, which was later renamed Esteghlal Zahedan and managed to advance to the second division league, but this project was also dissolved due to financial problems. Sepahan Club, however, established Sepahan Novin in 2004, creating one of the most successful examples of a second division team in Iran; this team even went so far as to advance to the Premier League, but due to the rules prohibiting the presence of two teams under the same ownership

At the highest level of the league, it failed to advance and its points were forfeited.

 Economic dimensions: investment or cost?
 From the perspective of sports economics, buying the franchise of a League One team and setting up an efficient "B" team can be interpreted as a long-term investment with significant returns:
 1. Reduce player acquisition costs and develop revenue generation: The main goal of the "B" team is to develop young and talented players from the academy to gradually replace expensive purchases in the transfer market. This is an economic model

It is efficient in that, instead of spending money on buying players, the club creates valuable assets by investing in youth who can help the first team in the future or create a large source of income by selling to other clubs.
 2. Improving the league's level and investment attractiveness: The entry of a team with the financial backing and brand of Persepolis into the Azadegan League can help increase the league's revenues from broadcasting rights, ticket sales, and sponsor attraction. This will open up new investment opportunities.

It creates smaller clubs and leads to a more professionalization of the entire league structure.
 3. Creating a platform for coaching development: In many countries, B teams have served as a breeding ground for young coaches and testing out new tactics. Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, who have managed Barcelona B, and Zinedine Zidane, who has managed Real Madrid Castilla, demonstrate the importance of these teams in the club's development chain.
 Overall, it must be said that buying points for Team Lee

The move by Persepolis is more than a technical measure to strengthen the main team; it is an economic-strategic decision. Although the success of this project depends on careful implementation, continuous investment, and smart management, given successful global experiences, this move could pave the way for a change in Iranian football from a consumer-oriented and costly system to one based on value creation and sustainable development.
 However, the long-term success of this scheme requires financial transparency and full compliance with the rules of the SA.

It's time for the league and, ultimately, for this team to become a revenue-generating arm and not just an unavoidable expense.
 Mehdi Hajivand, sports economics expert
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