Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has launched a stunning attack on FIFA and suggested his team believe World Cup organizers would rather they were knocked out of the tournament.
Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the very first time hang in the balance after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Egypt in the controversial ‘Pride Match’ in Seattle. Taremi’s team saw a last-gasp winner ruled out.
The team’s World Cup campaign has been dogged by travel and visa restrictions as well as weeks of mudslinging between Iranian officials and US authorities.
Following Iran’s opening draw against New Zealand, Taremi branded the World Cup a ‘disaster’ and he reiterated those claims on Friday before slamming FIFA for ‘doing nothing’ to help his team.
‘We always complain about these things since the beginning, it’s a disaster World Cup. A disaster,’ he said.
‘As professional players in a professional competition, it’s not right… it’s not fair… if it’s fair for FIFA, okay good for them. But it’s not fair. Who wants to help us… no one helps. No one.’
Mehdi Taremi claimed Iran’s players feel World Cup chiefs would rather they are knockout out
Taremi said Gianni Infantino vowed to ‘solve every problem… but actually FIFA did nothing’
He added: ‘Who has to solve this problem for us? Who? FIFA? I don’t know. USA. I don’t know – just mention one name for me.
‘[FIFA president Gianni] Infantino came to [our locker room] the first game [against New Zealand] and said we will solve every problem here, but actually FIFA did nothing.’
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the USA’s ‘behavior towards us has been really terrible and we hope the world will be aware of that.’
After war broke out with the US and Israel earlier this year, around a dozen members of Iran’s World Cup delegation were denied visas to America. The team was also forced to move its training base to Mexico.
During an astonishing press conference in Seattle, Taremi was asked whether he felt World Cup organizers – including FIFA and the US authorities – would prefer Iran to be knocked out.
‘We have to fight against everything here. I don’t know if people want [that] or not but as we see it by our perspective, yeah, they are like that I think,’ he said.
Iran thought they had secured a spot in the round of 32 when defender Shoja Khalilzadeh fired home in stoppage time against Egypt.
But after a long VAR check, the goal was eventually ruled out for offside. Moments later, a header from Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi hit the bar.
Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages hang in the balance after a draw with Egypt
Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored a last-gasp winner for Iran but it was ruled out
The 1-1 draw means Belgium and Egypt qualify automatically from Group G. Iran are odds on to join them as one the top eight third-place teams but they must now wait to see if other results go their way.
‘I feel sad but we have hope,’ said Taremi, who complained once again that Iran’s players have to head back to Tijuana after the game.
‘We always do our best. We play for our people. We want them to be happy because we want to bring the joy,’ he added.
‘We want to send a message of peace for the people in Iran, outside of Iran, for FIFA, for everyone. But there is no peace about the others to us.’
Iran’s players left a note in their locker room after the game, having previously done so following their draw against Belgium
It read: ‘We come from IRAN … from a land that, for thousands of years, has placed honour about victory.
‘For us, football is not only a competition for results, it is a test of character. Perhaps points can be won in many ways, but respect cannot.
‘Perhaps a team can advance from a group, but only through fairness and honor can one stand tall before history. Fair play is not just a line in football’s rules.
‘It is the soul of the game. Thank you, Seattle, for your hospitality and thank you to all Iranians who gave their hearts, their voices and their whole being for Iran. Iran, always standing tall.’
