Iran’s World Cup fate remains in the balance after an injury-time winner was ruled out in a stunning end to the controversial ‘Pride Match’ against Egypt.
Iran, who have never reached the knockout stages of a World Cup, thought they had secured a spot in the round of 32, when Shojae Khalilzadeh fired home at the death.
But after wild celebrations and a long VAR check, the goal was ruled out. Replays showed Khalilzadeh was offside by millimeters.
That wasn’t the end of the drama, however, because moments later, Iran hit the bar. But in the end, the game ended 1-1, meaning it is Egypt and Belgium who go through. Iran are odds on to join them but must wait to see if other results go their way.
Iran’s World Cup campaign has been dogged by travel and visa restrictions, with coach Amir Ghalenoei complaining his team have been ‘oppressed.’ Iran’s players, meanwhile, have claimed they are being treated unfairly.
Despite months of uncertainty and controversy, however, Iran finished third in Group G with three draws from three games. Belgium topped the group on goal difference ahead of Egypt, with Iran finishing third.
Iran’s World Cup fate remains in the balance after an injury-time winner was ruled out in a stunning end to the controversial ‘Pride Match’
Ramin Rezaeian equalized for Iran only minutes after Mehdi Taremi had missed a penalty
Mahmoud Saber opened the scoring for Egypt after just five minutes of the Group G clash
As it stands, Iran are among the top eight-ranked third-place teams and are slated to face Switzerland in the round of 32. But there are several teams who could move ahead of them with wins later this week.
Local organizers designated this game a ‘Pride Match,’ given it fell on the eve of Pride Weekend, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and culminates in a huge parade through Seattle on Sunday.
That sparked complaints from both Iran – where homosexuality is illegal – and Egypt, where gay men can be imprisoned for ‘indecency’, ‘scandalous acts’, and ‘debauchery.’
Despite their protests, however, the match went ahead, sparking fears of unrest around Seattle. There were clashes on Friday afternoon but primarily between different factions of Iranian fans.
Before kickoff, the Iranian national anthem was once again greeted by loud boos by some sections of the crowd. On the streets surrounding Lumen Field, meanwhile, there were more anti-government protests and disputes between Iranian supporters.
Certainly the number of pre-revolutionary Iranian flags – which have been banned by FIFA – dwarfed the number of Pride flags around Downtown Seattle.
Near the stadium gates, tension also nearly spilled over between supporters of Israel and Palestine.
Some fans brought in rainbow flags into Lumen Field for the game between Egypt and Iran
Protests against the Iranian regime were held outside the stadium ahead of Friday’s game
The Iranian national anthem was once again greeted by boos by some sections of the crowd
Inside Lumen Field, veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell staged his own protest by holding up a placard that read: ‘Iran & Egypt ban gay footballers. It’s against FIFA rules.’ He claimed stadium officials attempted to take his sign.
Egypt took an early lead after Mohamed Salah’s shot was parried by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand into the path of Mahmoud Saber, whose effort went through a crowd of bodies and into the net.
Iran had the chance to level a few minutes later when Mehdi Taremi was fouled by Mohamed Abdelmonem inside the area. But Taremi was denied by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir.
But that proved only a brief reprieve, with Rezaeian equalizing from a tight angle. That meant, heading into the second half, Group G still sat on a knife-edge. Iran thought they had won it late on, only for VAR to intervene.
