Iran threatens to stop World Cup games if faced with unauthorised flags or slogans

Iran threatened to halt its matches at the World
Cup if unauthorised flags are displayed or slogans targeting the national team
are chanted at stadiums, Iranian media reported, citing Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali,
following criticism of the team's presence at the tournament.
The World Cup begins on Thursday, with Iran
opening their Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
They next face Belgium at the same venue on June 21 before taking on Egypt in
Seattle on June 26.
"We have informed FIFA that if unofficial
flags are brought or slogans against the national team are chanted in the
stadiums where Iran plays in the World Cup, the team manager will definitely
be responsible for stopping the match," Donyamali said on Tuesday,
according to Iranian media.
"We have been assured that no disruptive
incidents will occur in the stadium during the match against Egypt."
Iran and Egypt's football associations had
previously urged FIFA to prevent any LGBTQ+ Pride-related activities during
the Seattle match. The fixture had been designated by local organisers as a
"Pride Match" to coincide with Seattle's Pride weekend.
In April, protesters gathered outside the FIFA
Congress in Vancouver called for Iran to be banned from the tournament,
saying the team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than
the Iranian people.
The Iranian team has also faced organisational
challenges, with Iran's football federation saying its ticket allocation was
withdrawn days before the tournament, leaving supporters who had already made
travel plans unable to attend their team's matches.
The team, currently training in Tijuana, Mexico,
will be able to enter the US the day before each match, the Department of
Homeland Security said, amid a conflict that has added a geopolitical dimension
to the tournament.
















