Ahmadinejad is 'Steinbrenner of Iran'

A leaked US diplomatic cable on the 2009 Iranian election campaign calls President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the "George Steinbrenner of Iran" when summarising his influence over the national soccer team. The comparison was made in a confidential document released by Wikileaks in December that explains how Ahmadinejad's chances for re-election could be affected by Team Melli's results on the field.
Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner, son of the late owner who had a reputation for being an autocratic boss, called the comparison inappropriate and ridiculous.