TEHRAN - The 24th season of the Iran Persian Gulf Professional League (PGPL) is set to commence on Thursday, under a cloud of uncertainty, as venue and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) issues cast a shadow over the league's start.

Defending champions Persepolis will face Zob Ahan in an unusual situation. The match will be played in Arak, rather than their traditional home ground in Tehran's Azadi Stadium. This shift is due to ongoing renovations at the iconic stadium, a situation mirrored by many other clubs across the league.

The Iran Football Federation's stringent standards for venues have left several teams scrambling to find suitable grounds.

The absence of VAR has also been a major point of contention. Despite promises from the federation to implement the technology this season, only one stadium – Arak's Imam Khomeini – is equipped with VAR, hosting the Persepolis and Zob Ahan match. The lack of VAR is expected to reignite debates over refereeing decisions, which plagued the previous season.

While venue and VAR issues dominate the pre-season narrative, the on-field action promises to be as exciting as ever. Perennial powerhouses Persepolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan, and Tractor are once again the favorites to clinch the title. With significant investments in their squads, these teams are poised for a thrilling battle.

Tractor, in particular, have made waves in the transfer market by acquiring three key players from rivals Persepolis: Alireza Beiranvand, Mehdi Torabi, and Danial Esmaeilifar. Coupled with the appointment of former Iran national team coach Dragan Skocic, Tractor are determined to dethrone Persepolis.

Sepahan, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing AFC Champions League exit. The club's Portuguese manager, Jose Morais, is under intense pressure to deliver results from the outset.

A total of 16 teams will compete in the 2024/25 PGPL season. Chadormalu and Kheybar are debutants in the league.

PGPL Matchweek 1:

Thursday:
• Persepolis vs. Zob Ahan
•Esteghlal Khuzestan vs. Aluminum
• Malavan vs. Gol Gohar

Friday:
• Sepahan vs. Chadormalu
• Shams Azar vs. Esteghlal
• Mes vs. Tractor
• Havadar vs. Kheybar
•Nassaji vs. Foolad