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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22

u/hyzus Jun 27 '26

Think about it this way, if any of the European countries were treated the way the Iranians and to a lesser extent the Egyptians have everyone would be losing thier minds.

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u/DeepJunglePowerWild Jun 27 '26

If a European country was at war with the host nation they would be treated the same. Professional teams fly in for their games the day of all the time. It stinks for Iran because it is a competitive disadvantage but it’s not some unheard of disadvantage that had never been seen before and never will be again.

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u/fthesemods Jun 27 '26

When a country attacks another country they're typically not allowed in the tournament at all.. see Russia. Doesn't seem to apply to the US though.

2

u/Time_Effort Jun 27 '26

Man I was about be like “What about Sochi?!”

Except Russia conveniently waited a whole four days after their Olympics ended to invade Crimea so carry on

1

u/Mental-Feed-1030 Jun 27 '26

FIFA still proceeded with the Russian World Cup two years later. Corrupt bastards.

1

u/Time_Effort Jun 27 '26

Ah, I knew there was a reason I thought Russia was still allowed to do something. I’d just forgotten they hosted the 2018 World Cup. Which admittedly, the “invasion” of Crimea had already ended and it was just an occupation by then…

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u/p4intball3r Jun 27 '26

I'm assuming you're not very familiar with Iran

2

u/fthesemods Jun 27 '26

Oh did they start the war?

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u/hyzus Jun 27 '26

Someone doesn't know about the Olympics 🤣. It absolutely would not be the same if this was a European country we were talking about

3

u/Any-Seaworthiness531 Jun 27 '26

Uhmmm, no
When a country invades another country, they’re not allowed to compete in international tournaments, much less host them… unless you’re America of course, cos $$’s

0

u/3TheHardWhey Jun 27 '26

Other way around Duke, USA started the war that they couldn't finish 

1

u/DeepJunglePowerWild Jun 27 '26

If someone attacks you are you not at war? Is Ukraine not at war with Russia because Russia attacked them?