Iran Criticizes U.S. Over Protocol Violations Amid World Cup Organizing Issues

Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, has sharply criticized U.S. authorities for failing to adhere to international protocols and standards set by FIFA regarding their treatment of the Iranian national team during the World Cup.

In official remarks reported by the Iranian news agency Tasnim, Taj expressed his dissatisfaction with the varying levels of organization among the host countries. He thanked Mexico, both its leadership and people, for what he described as full cooperation with the Iranian team, while formally lodging a complaint against the U.S. organizers.

Taj highlighted that significant issues arose from breaches related to essential procedures, particularly concerning the display of the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran in stadiums. He emphasized that the Iranian Federation had previously informed FIFA about the officially approved version of the flag and noted that FIFA is currently monitoring this matter seriously.

On a sporting note, Iran is placed in Group G for the World Cup, alongside Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand.

Separately, Mehdi Taj commented on recent statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a potential political agreement between Washington and Tehran. He insisted that the national team’s delegation strictly separates political matters from sports, stating: “We came here solely for football, and our focus is entirely on the upcoming matches.”.

He concluded his remarks by welcoming any political steps that could serve Iran’s interests and promote stability and peace on an international level.