Iran allows Carlos Queiroz to fly out after tax dispute

National manager has just two games left in charge

Carlos Queiroz's Iran team could cause more upsets in this tournament (Getty Images)

Iran’s national coach, Carlos Queiroz, has been allowed to leave the country to prepare the team for their two forthcoming friendly matches in Europe – set to be his final two games in the role.

The Portuguese coach, who managed Iran at last year’s World Cup, had been prevented from flying to Austria to prepare the team after a dispute over unpaid income tax.

The Iranian government had been trying to get Queiroz to pay income tax, which the coach believed was the Iranian football federation’s duty to pay. Queiroz resigned from his post last week citing “pressures” on his role from outside, precipitating this tax dispute.

On Sunday morning, though, an intervention from the Iranian Ministry of Finance allowed Queiroz to link up with the team in Austria to prepare them for his final two friendlies in charge. Iran play Chile in St Polten in Austria on Thursday and then Sweden, in Stockholm, next Tuesday.

Queiroz signed a contract extension last year until 2018, following the World Cup in Brazil, where Iran finished bottom of Group F, with one point from three games.

At the Asian Cup in January, Iran were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by local rivals Iraq after a penalty shoot-out.

Queiroz is unlikely to be in charge for Iran’s first 2018 World Cup qualification matches, which start in June this year.

He is best known for his two spells as Manchester United assistant manager under Sir Alex Ferguson. He has also coached Real Madrid, South Africa and Portugal.