That year, during the Iranian Regional Cup, Persepolis faced fierce rivals Taj in one of the most controversial matches of the era. Two Persepolis players were expelled while the score was 1–1, prompting the team to leave the field in protest. The federation later ruled the match 3–0 in favor of Taj and suspended Persepolis from participating in the rankings. Kalani himself was suspended for one year — a severe punishment that tested his patience and character.
During his suspension, Kalani turned to journalism. He wrote for Jawanan Emroz, one of Iran’s leading youth magazines, where he contributed articles on sports, education, and culture. This period revealed another dimension of his personality — that of a thinker and writer. His commentaries were often reflective, emphasizing the importance of ethics in sports and criticizing the bureaucratic mismanagement of Iranian football.
The federation eventually reduced his suspension from one year to nine months, allowing him to return to football. When he rejoined Persepolis, his impact was immediate. He became the top scorer of the tournament with seven goals, leading the team to a fourth-place finish and establishing himself once again as one of Iran’s finest strikers.
