November 27 – Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has lambasted former German star Juergen Klinsmann for criticising his team’s World Cup behaviour, calling his remarks a “disgrace to football” and urging him to resign from FIFA’s technical study group.
Both Queiroz and the Iranian FA denounced Klinsmann for alleging Iran’s players are engaged in systematic gamesmanship because it’s in their “culture”, with the FA asking for “immediate clarification”.
Klinsmann, who coached the United States from 2011-16, led Germany to a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup and won the tournament as a player in 1990, made the controversial remarks on Friday as a BBC analyst during Iran’s win over Wales.
“That’s their way of doing it. And that’s why Carlos Queiroz, he fits really well (with) the Iranian national team. This is not by coincidence, this is all purposely. This is just part of their culture, that’s how they play it and they work the referee… constantly in their ears, they’re constantly in your face on the field,” said Klinsmann, who also disparaged players from Central America.
“I worked for the US for six years. They went to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica. This fits their culture.”
Iran play the United States in a crunch Group B match on Tuesday and have a chance to reach the last 16 for the first time.
Queiroz, who is from Portugal, responded on Sunday when he accused Klinsmann of having “a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority.”
“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
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Klinsmann said his comments had been taken out of context and he would talk to Queiroz and “calm things down”.
“I have never criticised Carlos or the Iranian bench,” he said.
“All I described was their emotional way of doing things, which is actually admirable in a certain way. The whole bench lives the game.
“They’re jumping up and down and Carlos is a very emotional coach, he’s constantly on the sidelines trying to give his players all his energy and direction.”
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