Iran may pull out of this summer’s ‘inappropriate’ World Cup in America after the ‘vicious’ US and Israeli bombardments on their nation, the Iranian football federation’s president has said
The Islamic Republic’s national team have been drawn in Group G of the tournament alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt, but the prospect of their participation is growing increasingly uncertain.
Following the death of their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran have been launching widespread retaliatory attacks across the Middle East largely targeting US and Israel military bases.
And Mehdi Taj, who leads Iran’s football federation, has told Iranian media over the last 24 hours that the country’s participation in the tournament is a doubt.
‘It’s not possible to say exactly, but there will certainly be a response,’ he said on IRIB Channel 3. ‘This will be studied by the country’s high-ranking sports officials and there will be a decision on what’s going to happen.
‘But what we can say now is that due to this attack and its viciousness, it is far from our expectations that we can look at the World Cup with hope.’
He added that it would be ‘inappropriate’ for Iran to compete under the current circumstances.
With just 101 days until the tournament kicks off across the US, Canada and Mexico, questions are continuing to grow for FIFA surrounding their plan should Iran pull out.
At present, FIFA’s only public comment about the war in the Middle East has come from their general secretary Mattias Grafstrom.
‘I read the news (about Iran) this morning the same way you did,’ Grafstrom said on Saturday at the International Football Association Board’s AGM in Cardiff.
‘We had a meeting today and it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world.
‘We had the finals draw in Washington in which all teams participated, and our focus is on a safe World Cup with all the teams participating.
‘We will continue to communicate as we always do with three (host) governments as we always do in any case. Everybody will be safe.’
Should Iran play in the tournament, their matches against New Zealand and Belgium will be held in Los Angeles, while their clash against Egypt is set to be hosted in Seattle.
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