September 11, 2004

Beckenbauer to attend Germany-Iran friendly match in Tehran

Berlin, Sept 11, IRNA -- German football icon Franz Beckenbauer will attend the upcoming friendly football game between Germany and Iran scheduled to take place at Tehran's Azadi Stadium on October 9, sources close to the German public television network ZDF told IRNA in Berlin on Saturday.

Beckenbauer will be covering the match as a sports analyst for ZDF which will air the game live to Iran and Germany.

ZDF will be the first-ever foreign television station to broadcast live a football match to the Iranian audience.

According to the ZDF source, Beckenbauer and the German national team will be staying at Tehran's Esteghlal Hotel which will be cordoned off to the public.

The friendly will kick off at 7:30 p.m local Tehran time, according to the German Football Federation (DFB).

A portion of the match proceeds will be donated to the survivors of last December's devastating Bam earthquake, the DFB added.

Germany faced Iran only once before during the first round of the 1998 World Cup in the French city of Montpellier, beating the Iranian side 2-0.