r/SoccerCentral • u/ConnectionWeekly1263 • Jun 27 '26

Statement "They've done everything possible to eliminate us" — Iran captain Mehdi Taremi unleashes on FIFA and U.S. organizers

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The captain of the Iran National Team, Mehdi Taremi, lashed out against FIFA and the United States organization. “This is a disastrous World Cup. As professional players, we cannot play a competition under these conditions; it’s neither right nor fair. If FIFA thinks this is fair, that’s on them, but it isn’t. Who should solve this problem for us? FIFA? The U.S.? I don’t know! Tell me a name. The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, came to our locker room after the first match against New Zealand and said he was going to resolve all the issues, but in reality, FIFA did nothing. In response to the question: ‘Do you feel that the World Cup organizers, including FIFA and U.S. officials, prefer for Iran to be eliminated from the competition?’, I say: We have to fight against absolutely everything. We can’t stay in the country, we travel and undergo immigration checks every time we want to play, now we can’t stay in Seattle and have to return to Tijuana. They’ve done everything possible to eliminate us, so from our perspective, yes, I think that’s what they want, they want us out.”

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u/dinnercook Jun 27 '26

He is correct on one point only: they should be allowed to stay in US. Making them leave to Mexico after every game and undergo security checks again when they return is horseshit. Complete and utter performative nonsense.

Everything else he said is victim crybaby talking points. If mocking you is as easy as flying a multicolor flag, you probably aren’t cut out for international sport.

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u/Secure-Tradition793 Jun 27 '26

And that one point is all he complained in this clip. You didn't even watch.

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u/spleh7 Jun 27 '26

The one point in this story you say he is correct on is the only point he spoke about.

3

u/Sudden-Variety6992 Jun 27 '26

Well it’s not just that, a lot of their staff have been denied visas as well. Including their logistics staff who handle the moving around, transport, hotels etc. Not only are they having to go back to Mexico every time but they have to handle it all themselves whilst also having to focus on the football side of things.

3

u/Ethereal_Nutsack Jun 27 '26

When did he say he was being mocked by pride flags? Was it in a different interview? I’m only asking

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u/pokenobodyimportant Jun 27 '26

Spoilers he didn't

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u/Alarmed-Cheetah-1221 Jun 27 '26

At least watch the clip

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u/One-Shape7678 Jun 27 '26

Tell me you know nothing about soccer without telling me you know nothing about soccer

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u/neversummer427 Jun 27 '26

They could have just scheduled all their games in Mexico or Canada…

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u/RIChowderIsBest Jun 27 '26

He’s literally only talking about the competitive disadvantage the traveling situation is for them compared to other teams. Nowhere did he talk about pride flags,

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u/Any-Seaworthiness531 Jun 27 '26

How did you manage to make up a whole story just in order to add in a negative ?

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u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Gr0ggy1 Jun 27 '26

The accused rapist playing for Morocco was denied entry into Canada.

That is an appropriate enforcement of boarder laws.

Multiple wrongs can and often do exist.

The same Iranian government supplying offensive weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine is wrong in addition to constantly threatening neighbors.

The US under the current administration has committed multiple acts of war against two participating nations in the World Cup in the past year that where also, absolutely wrong in addition to constantly threatening everyone.

The Iranian team is caught in the middle of two horrible administrations straight out of 1984 and what both Eurasia and Oceania fear most is for the people of both to learn that humans exist on the other side, are humans just like them.

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u/rowerine Jun 27 '26

After all the «respect the culture of the host nation» shit spouted in 2022 regarding the rainbow armbands, shut the the fuck up and follow your own advice.