Iran is preparing to submit a formal complaint to Fifa concerning the “restrictions imposed by the organisers” on their team during the World Cup. The complaint arises after the team was informed they would only be allowed to arrive in Los Angeles 24 hours before their pivotal match against Belgium on Sunday. Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach, expressed that they are the “The football federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams’ preparation processes. “Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with Fifa through the appropriate channels. Despite these limitations, Iran’s national team will continue its preparation program [sic] and remain fully focused on its upcoming match against Belgium.” team at the tournament following their Group G opener against New Zealand. Captain Mehdi Taremi described the logistical challenges they faced in recent weeks as a “disaster.”
The frustration stems from the requirement that Iran travel to their team base in Tijuana, Mexico, right after their match at the Los Angeles Stadium, rather than returning the next day for a recovery session.
Iran feels compelled to lodge a complaint with Fifa, as they were informed that, similar to the lead-up to their 2-2 draw with New Zealand, they would not be permitted to arrive in the US two days prior to the match. The federation has reportedly argued for more time to prepare in the host city.
Particularly concerning for the team are the timing constraints, as their match on Sunday is set for midday local time in Los Angeles, necessitating travel to the airport on Saturday. This contrasts with their opening game, which commenced at 6pm local time.
FFIRI’s Response to Restrictions
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) released a statement on Friday expressing their concerns. They stated.
“The football federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams’ preparation processes.”
“Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with Fifa through the appropriate channels. Despite these limitations, Iran’s national team will continue its preparation program and remain fully focused on its upcoming match against Belgium.”
Fifa has been contacted for a comment regarding the situation.
