DistantNews
Support us
Iran Warns World Cup Matches Will Stop If Anti-Country Symbols Appear
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

Iran Warns World Cup Matches Will Stop If Anti-Country Symbols Appear

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Iran's national football team will prepare for the World Cup in Mexico, traveling to the US shortly before matches.
  • Iran's sports minister warned that matches would be stopped if anti-Iran symbols or slogans appear in stadiums.
  • The team secured visas after initial uncertainty, but some staff still face entry issues.

Iran's national football team is set to base its World Cup preparations in Mexico, with strategic travel to the United States for group stage matches. The team's federation announced that the squad will depart for Los Angeles on a special flight one day before their June 15th opener against New Zealand.

For subsequent games, the team will arrive in host cities two days prior to kickoff. This logistical plan aims to optimize their performance during the tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran will play all three of its group matches on US soil.

If in the stadiums where we compete we see a flag or symbol other than that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or if slogans are heard that are not in accordance with the regulations, the team's manager will have the obligation to stop the match.

— Ahmad DavarzaniIssuing a warning about potential disruptions during World Cup matches.

Adding a layer of political tension, Iran's Minister of Sports, Ahmad Davarzani, issued a stern warning regarding potential disruptions during matches. He stated that if any symbols other than the Islamic Republic of Iran's flag or slogans inconsistent with regulations are displayed or heard in stadiums, the team's manager is obligated to halt the game. Davarzani emphasized that it would then be up to the organizers to rectify the situation.

The team's participation in the tournament had faced uncertainty due to regional developments, but international footballers ultimately secured the necessary entry visas. However, some members of the technical staff are reportedly still encountering difficulties with the visa process. The team arrived in Tijuana on Sunday, June 7th, to establish their base camp for the World Cup.

It will be up to the organizers to restore the situation.

— Ahmad DavarzaniClarifying the responsibility for addressing stadium incidents.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog