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Iran to complain to FIFA over World Cup travel restrictions

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Iran's football federation plans to file a complaint with FIFA over alleged travel restrictions imposed on the national team during the World Cup.
  • The federation claims its request to travel to Los Angeles two days before their match against Belgium was denied, hindering preparations.
  • Iran argues the denial prevents the team from adapting to match conditions and completing final training sessions.

Iran's national football team intends to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, citing travel restrictions that are allegedly disrupting their World Cup preparations. The Iranian football federation spokesman stated on Thursday that the team has encountered obstacles imposed by organizers, impacting their planned technical activities.

Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organisers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff’s plans.

— Iranian football federation spokesmanStating the reason for the planned complaint to FIFA.

The federation claims that despite submitting their schedule well in advance, their request to travel from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles for their upcoming match against Belgium was denied. Iran had sought to arrive two days before the Sunday game, aiming to allow players sufficient time to acclimate to the conditions, conduct their final training, and finalize preparations.

Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match.

— Iranian football federation spokesmanExplaining the specific travel request made by Iran.

"Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match," the spokesman explained. "The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations."

The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations.

— Iranian football federation spokesmanDetailing the purpose behind the requested travel schedule.

However, the spokesman asserted that despite the technical justifications provided by the federation, the request was rejected. This situation has caused frustration for the Iranian team as they navigate the tournament schedule in North America.

Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.

— Iranian football federation spokesmanConfirming the denial of Iran's travel request.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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