Italy’s repechage to the World Cup, from'Iran comes a scathing attack on FIFA
Less than a week before the start of the World Cup, the situation of the Iranian national team continues to cause discussion. U.S. authorities have granted visas to the players but not to some members of Team Melli’s delegation, and the Tehran federation has not taken it well at all.
The Tehran Times published a scathing article against FIFA: “FIFA has repeatedly upheld the idea that soccer belongs to everyone and that all participating nations should enjoy equal conditions at the World Cup. Yet as the competition approaches, events involving the Iranian national team once again highlight the uncomfortable reality that this principle often remains little more than a slogan.”
“What makes the situation particularly troubling,” reads the article by esteemed journalist Farrokh Hesabi, “is that FIFA officials had previously assured Iranian authorities that visa obstacles would not prevent the country’s full participation in the competition. Their assurances are increasingly out of touch with the reality of the situation. The issue is not merely bureaucratic. Modern international soccer teams rely on a complex network of support staff, including administrators, analysts, medical personnel, logistical coordinators and technical assistants. Their presence is often essential to team preparation and performance. Denying access to key members of a delegation inevitably creates competitive disadvantages and unnecessary uncertainty.”
“To be clear, this issue goes beyond Iran: it affects the very credibility of the World Cup. If a host country can restrict or delay access to members of a qualified national delegation, then the principle of equal participation becomes conditional rather than universal. This sets a dangerous precedent for a tournament that claims to represent the entire world of soccer.”
“The fact that FIFA was forced to negotiate at the last minute to guarantee the participation of members of a delegation at the World Cup should worry anyone who believes that sports should remain independent of political disputes,” the article concludes.
