October 21 – A group of Iranian activists has called on FIFA to throw Iran out of the World Cup because of the country’s brutal crackdown against anti-government protests and its continued ban on women from freely attending domestic matches.
The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after being detained by Iran’s morality police for not wearing a headscarf properly has sparked unprecedented demonstrations across the country.
Authorities have responded with lethal force and a formal request has now been submitted to FIFA demanding football’s world governing disassociate itself from the violence.
Since the start of the protests a number of prominent Iranian sports figures, including several footballing household names, have reportedly been summoned or arrested and had their passports confiscated after showing support for the protests.
Iranian media reported on September 29 that Hossein Mahini, former captain of Iranian soccer giant Persepolis FC, had been arrested on charges of “encouraging riots and sympathising with the enemy” after he posted content on social media in support of the protesters.
The open letter to FIFA says the Iranian government has “stifled the voices of several athletes in the country and impeded their rights to speak up in the face of the evil on display” and that Iran continues to stop women from attending games.
“Neutrality from FIFA is not an option,” the group said. “Iran’s brutality and belligerence towards its own people has reached a tipping point, demanding an unequivocal and firm disassociation from the footballing and sports world.”
“Women have been consistently denied access to stadia across the country and systematically excluded from the football ecosystem in Iran, which sharply contrasts with FIFA’s values and statutes.
It seems highly unlikely FIFA would kick Iran out at this late stage, with the World Cup just over a month away. But the group – supported by a Spanish law firm – insist Iran is in violation of FIFA statutes and that other nations have been suspended in the past for similar violations.
“If women are not allowed into stadia across the country, and the Iranian Football Federation is simply following and enforcing governmental guidelines, they cannot be seen as an independent organisation and free from any form or kind of influence. This is a violation of (Article 19) of FIFA’s statutes.”
“The FIFA Council can and must immediately suspend Iran. FIFA shouldn’t allow participation by a country that is actively persecuting its women, athletes and children only for their exercising their most basic human rights.”
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