Former FIFA head Blatter says Iran should be barred from World Cup
2 years, 1 month ago

Former FIFA head Blatter says Iran should be barred from World Cup

The Hindu  

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter thinks Iran should be barred from the World Cup amid widespread protests in the Islamic Republic sparked by the death of a woman in the custody of morality police, a Swiss paper quoted him on Friday as saying. “Iran should be excluded from the World Cup,” the Blick tabloid reported, saying Blatter at a talk at its publisher’s headquarters had demanded harsh consequences and that he would have removed Iran from competition had he still been in charge. Iran has accused foreign enemies of fomenting unrest raging since the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September after her arrest for allegedly flouting Iran’s strict dress code imposed on women. The Blick paper cited Blatter as saying it was incomprehensible that FIFA head Gianni Infantino had not taken a clear position on Iran.

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History of this topic

IOC urged to ban Iran for discriminating against women in sport
1 year, 3 months ago

IOC urged to ban Iran for discriminating against women in sport

The Hindu  

A group including former Franco-Iranian boxing world champion Mahyar Monshipour and Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi has asked the International Olympic Committee to ban Iran from the Paris Olympics. The letter, sent to the IOC at the end of July, said that Iran violates the principle of non-discrimination in sport by failing to comply with the Olympic Charter, …

Analysis: As Qatar World Cup unfolds, planet keeps spinning
2 years ago

Analysis: As Qatar World Cup unfolds, planet keeps spinning

Associated Press  

LONDON — Soccer — or football, to most of the global billions watching the World Cup this month — is not human society itself, with all its thorny issues. In early November, just weeks before the most heavily scrutinized World Cup in the tournament’s history kicked off in Qatar, top FIFA officials sent a letter urging teams to “let football …

Top US diplomat criticizes FIFA armband threat at World Cup
2 years, 1 month ago

Top US diplomat criticizes FIFA armband threat at World Cup

Associated Press  

DOHA, Qatar — America’s top diplomat on Tuesday criticized a decision by FIFA to threaten players at the World Cup with yellow cards if they wear armbands supporting inclusion and diversity. “We know that without workers, including many migrant workers, this World Cup simply would not have been possible,” Blinken said. “Qatar has made meaningful strides in recent years to …

Barred from stadiums at home, Iran women travel to World Cup
2 years, 1 month ago

Barred from stadiums at home, Iran women travel to World Cup

The Hindu  

Published : Nov 22, 2022 15:42 IST To 27-year-old Mariam, the World Cup match ticket was a precious gift. A sports fanatic, she travelled to the World Cup in Qatar from Tehran to catch Iran’s opening game on November 21 against England, her first live soccer match. Many Iran fans wore T-shirts or waving signs printed with the mantra of …

Iran’s coach angered over political pressure on World Cup squad
2 years, 1 month ago

Iran’s coach angered over political pressure on World Cup squad

Al Jazeera  

Iran’s World Cup 2022 coach Carlos Queiroz has called on fans to allow his team to be ‘simple football’ players. Iran’s World Cup team coach Carlos Queiroz has vented anger at players being dragged into a crisis in their home country, telling the team’s Iranian compatriots not to harass and politicise his team and to let them focus on their …

Barred from stadiums at home, Iranian women attend Football World Cup in Qatar
2 years, 1 month ago

Barred from stadiums at home, Iranian women attend Football World Cup in Qatar

Firstpost  

The question of whether to root for the national team has divided Iranians as the team becomes entangled in the country’s combustible politics. “I’ve never attended a football match in my life so I had to take this chance,” said Mariam, a student of international relations who like other Iranian women at the match declined to give her last name …

Iran fans boo national anthem before England World Cup game as players refuse to sing
2 years, 1 month ago

Iran fans boo national anthem before England World Cup game as players refuse to sing

Daily Mail  

Iran's players refused to sing their national anthem as boos rung out from fans in the stands ahead of their first game of the Qatar World Cup against England today. Iran's players refused to sing the national anthem as they lined up before their first game of the Qatar World Cup against England today Player stood stony-faced as the anthem …

England vs. Iran: For Iranians, this World Cup is about more than football
2 years, 1 month ago

England vs. Iran: For Iranians, this World Cup is about more than football

CNN  

CNN — For the last few months, soccer in Iran has witnessed small acts of defiance against the country’s regime amid widespread protests in the country; Sardar Azmoun’s refusal to celebrate scoring an equalizer against Senegal and several players changing their social media profile pictures to black. “How can this team go and perform when you’re supposed to be a …

World Cup roundup: Political protests flare in Qatar despite FIFA’s efforts otherwise
2 years, 1 month ago

World Cup roundup: Political protests flare in Qatar despite FIFA’s efforts otherwise

LA Times  

A fan holds up a sign reading “Woman Life Freedom Mahsa Amini” prior to the World Cup match between England and Iran on Monday in Doha, Qatar. As a result, just hours before England kicked off against Iran, becoming the first European team to take the field in Qatar, global soccer’s governing body issued a statement saying players not wearing …

Iran, the power of football and protests back home during a World Cup
2 years, 1 month ago

Iran, the power of football and protests back home during a World Cup

New York Times  

Iran defeated Wales in a big game with major ramifications for Group B. “Even for the European-based players, the majority of their family will still be based in Iran.” Iran play England in their World Cup opener today And so any support from the players these past weeks and months has been indirect — not celebrating goals in the Iranian …

'I Feel Qatari': FIFA Head Rips Europe For Qatar Human Rights Uproar In Bizarre Speech
2 years, 1 month ago

'I Feel Qatari': FIFA Head Rips Europe For Qatar Human Rights Uproar In Bizarre Speech

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The head of the world soccer governing body FIFA in a bizarre speech on Saturday blamed Europe for triggering the controversy over human rights abuses in Qatar, this year’s World Cup host. Amnesty International harshly criticized Infantino after his remarks, saying he was guilty of “brushing aside legitimate human rights criticisms” and “dismissing the enormous price paid …

FIFA president Gianni Infantino lashes out at critics of World Cup hosts Qatar in a shameful speech
2 years, 1 month ago

FIFA president Gianni Infantino lashes out at critics of World Cup hosts Qatar in a shameful speech

Daily Mail  

Gianni Infantino took his seat in the cavernous media theatre and, slowly, shook his head. Gianni Infantino hit out at critics of the host nation before appearing to compare his own experience to that of the marginalised Infantino said that if Europe 'really cared' about the migrant workers they would do as Qatar did in creating 'legal channels' for them …

FIFA president slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ over Qatar criticism
2 years, 1 month ago

FIFA president slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ over Qatar criticism

Al Jazeera  

In fiery news conference, Gianni Infantino said Western countries were not in a position to give ‘moral lessons’. Doha, Qatar – FIFA President Gianni Infantino accused Western countries of “hypocrisy” saying they were not in a position to give “moral lessons” to other nations, hours before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has accused Western …

FIFA World Cup: Iran focused only on playing football, not on events back home, says captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh
2 years, 1 month ago

FIFA World Cup: Iran focused only on playing football, not on events back home, says captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Firstpost  

The Iranian winger and captain was asked about the anti-regime protests raging back home and how it was affecting their preparations ahead of their opening game against England. Doha: Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said Thursday his team was focused on the competition at the World Cup and not on anti-government protests that have gripped his country. Jahanbakhsh, who used to …

Iranians planning to boycott World Cup matches – including game vs England
2 years, 1 month ago

Iranians planning to boycott World Cup matches – including game vs England

New York Times  

Iran defeated Wales in a big game with major ramifications for Group B. Iranians are planning a boycott of their team’s World Cup matches, including Monday’s fixture against England, as part of on-going protests against the country’s regime. However, many Iranians see the team as advocates of the Islamic Republic regime and the World Cup as a tool to distract …

Iran should be barred from FIFA World Cup: Former cheif Sepp Blatter amidst rising protests
2 years, 1 month ago

Iran should be barred from FIFA World Cup: Former cheif Sepp Blatter amidst rising protests

India Today  

Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter feels that Iran should be barred from the World Cup amid widespread protests in the Islamic Republic sparked by the death of a woman in the custody of morality police, Reuters reported on Friday, 11 November. "Iran should be excluded from the World Cup," Reuters quoted a Swiss tabloid - Blick, stating that Blatter demanded …

Sepp Blatter Says Awarding FIFA World Cup to Qatar was 'a Mistake'
2 years, 1 month ago

Sepp Blatter Says Awarding FIFA World Cup to Qatar was 'a Mistake'

News 18  

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the decision to award the 2022 World Cup finals to Qatar was a “mistake". Blatter says he voted for the United States to host the 2022 tournament and blames then-UEFA president Michel Platini for swinging the vote in Qatar’s favour at the behest of then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy had recommended to Platini “that …

Sepp Blatter says awarding Qatar the FIFA World Cup was 'a mistake'
2 years, 1 month ago

Sepp Blatter says awarding Qatar the FIFA World Cup was 'a mistake'

Firstpost  

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he wanted USA to host World Cup in 2022 but Michel Platini swinged the voting in Qatar’s favour. Geneva: Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the decision to award the 2022 World Cup finals to Qatar was a “mistake”. “It was based on a decision when I was president, and therefore I bear part …

Sepp Blatter admits ‘Qatar was a mistake’ on eve of World Cup
2 years, 1 month ago

Sepp Blatter admits ‘Qatar was a mistake’ on eve of World Cup

The Independent  

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sepp Blatter, the former president of Fifa, has …

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter: Awarding World Cup to Qatar was a mistake
2 years, 1 month ago

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter: Awarding World Cup to Qatar was a mistake

Op India  

On the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2022, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter admitted that awarding the tournament to the Gulf country of Qatar was a mistake. Blatter was serving as the FIFA president in 2010 when Qatar won the right to host the 2022 edition amidst allegations of bribery and corruption. We actually agreed in the executive committee …

Fifa tells World Cup teams to avoid ‘ideological or political battles’ in Qatar
2 years, 1 month ago

Fifa tells World Cup teams to avoid ‘ideological or political battles’ in Qatar

The Independent  

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Football’s top officials have urged the 32 teams …

Group of prominent Iranian sports figures calls on FIFA to ban Iranian Football Federation from World Cup
2 years, 2 months ago

Group of prominent Iranian sports figures calls on FIFA to ban Iranian Football Federation from World Cup

CNN  

CNN — A law firm has sent a letter to FIFA on behalf of a group of former and current Iranian sports figures urging football’s governing body to suspend the Iranian Football Federation and ban it from participating at this year’s World Cup in Qatar. “Women have been consistently denied access to stadia across the country and systematically excluded from …

Qatar Planning for FIFA World Cup Fans to Avoid Prosecution for Minor Offences, Say Sources
2 years, 3 months ago

Qatar Planning for FIFA World Cup Fans to Avoid Prosecution for Minor Offences, Say Sources

News 18  

World Cup fans in Qatar caught committing minor offences such as public drunkenness will escape prosecution under plans being developed by authorities in the conservative Muslim host nation, a diplomat and a person familiar with Qatari briefings to foreign police told Reuters. LAWS RELAXED However, organisers already intend to relax Qatar’s strict laws limiting the public sale of alcohol and …

Michel Platini, Sepp Blatter trial: Rise and fall of two former football heads
2 years, 5 months ago

Michel Platini, Sepp Blatter trial: Rise and fall of two former football heads

Firstpost  

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were on Friday acquitted following a two-week trial in June over a suspected fraudulent payment that rocked the sport and brought a premature end to their time at the top Paris: Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the chiefs of world and European football, were on Friday …

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