Iran demands action after US drops Allah from flag ‘to support women’
A political row has erupted between the US Soccer Federation and Iran’s governing body before their pivotal World Cup group game.
The stakes were already high, with a win for either team tomorrow securing a place in the last 16 of the tournament.
But the tension has risen significantly, and Iran’s federation has filed an official complaint to Fifa’s ethics committee, accusing the Americans of breaching rules by offending “the dignity and integrity of a country”.
The Islamic republic’s flag consists of three horizontal bands in red, white and green, with the word Allah appearing in stylised script in the centre. But that word has been removed from Iran flags that have appeared on the US federation’s Instagram page and on Twitter, with the Americans confirming that it was done as a show of support to people protesting against the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been held in police custody. In a statement the US federation said it wanted to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights”.
Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, said: “In an unprofessional act, the Instagram page of the US football federation removed the Allah symbol from the Iranian flag. The Iran Football Federation sent an email to Fifa to demand it issue a serious warning to the US federation.”
A spokesman for the US federation said: “It was a one-time graphic to show solidarity with the women in Iran.”
Reporters were later told the offending post had been removed and replaced with one displaying the correct flag. However, the spokesman added: “We still support the women of Iran”.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency pointed to the fact that a breach of the rule they have identified could lead to a “ten-game suspension”, adding that a country that will be joint hosts of the World Cup in 2026 “should be kicked out” of the tournament.
Iran’s manager, Carlos Queiroz, a former Manchester United coach, has been vocal in his support of his team, and turned his sights on Jürgen Klinsmann, the former US team boss. He accused the former Germany striker of being a “disgrace to football”, demanding he resign from Fifa over a row about Iran’s gamesmanship.
Klinsmann was appearing as a BBC pundit when he suggested that Iran had “worked the referee” during their opening Group B encounter with England. Klinsmann, who also sits on the Fifa World Cup technical study group, said: “That is their culture. Their way of doing it, and that is why Carlos Queiroz fits really well [with] the Iranian national team.”
Queiroz responded in a series of tweets. “No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran culture, Iran national team and my players are a disgrace to football,” he said.
“Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course. Even so, we would like to invite you as our guest, to come to our national team camp, socialise with Iran players and learn from them about the country, the people of Iran, the poets and art, the algebra, all the millennial Persian culture. And also listen from our players how much they love and respect football.
“As [an] American/German, we understand you’re no supporter. No problem. And despite your outrageous remarks on BBC trying to undermine our efforts, sacrifices and skills, we promise you that we will not produce any judgments regarding your culture, roots and background and that you will always be welcome to our family.”
Queiroz then called into question Klinsmann’s official role with Fifa.
“At the same time, we just want to follow with full attention what will be the decision of Fifa regarding your position as a member of Qatar 2022 technical study group. Because, obviously, we expect you to resign before you visit our camp,” he said.
Iran lost 6-2 to England and then beat Wales 2-0.
