TEHRAN — Iran international Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh has been handed a nine-month ban by the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) after being found guilty of attacking a fan in Qatar last week. Video footage showed the 23-year-old reaching out to strike a fan with his left hand following Persepolis' 3-0 AFC Champions League defeat to Lekhwiya. The defender could also be seen shouting at the supporter before being dragged onto the team bus by a Persepolis official. The Iranian club said in a statement it would appeal the sentence. — Reuters