The Latest from Iran (28 November): The Bank Fraud Expands

The celebration that led to lengthy suspension for two members of Iran's national football team (see 0835 GMT)

---

2148 GMT: Explosion Watch. An EA correspondent does some checking on the claimed location of today's blast in Isfahan (see 2020 GMT). Not only is it near the Military Academy, but it is just to the east of Darvazeh Shiraz (Shiraz city gate) is the Sepah Badr airbase.

Fars resurfaces, after dropping its original story to report --- from ISNA --- that the head of Isfahan's judiciary heard the sound of an explosion but got no information from officials.

And Tabnak has the latest rationale from Deputy Governor Mohammadi Mehdi Esmaili: "Perhaps a water boiler exploded."

Click to read more ...

Iran Football Video: Players Suspended for "Immoral Celebration"

I discovered on trips to Tehran the passion for football --- in the city, there was red (Persepolis), blue (Esteghlal), and little space in between.

But it appears that even this passion has its limits, or rather, needs to be limited. This weekend, Persepolis won 3-2 against Damash Gilan, but the victory came at a cost: two players have been suspended for an "immoral" goal-scoring celebration during the live broadcast.

First, defender Mohammed Nosrati handled the backside of teammate Sheis Rezaei as Persepolis scored. Then Rezaei marked another goal by giving an unidentified teammate a quick squeeze.

Nosrati and Rezaei are indefinitely banned from entering any stadium, let alone appearing on the pitch. and could face even more sanctions.