World News
Ahmad Donyamali Clarifies Stance of Iranian National Team Ahead of Mundial
Ahmad Donyamali, a former member of the Iranian military’s Revolutionary Guard and current Minister of Sport and Youth, has stated that the country’s participation in the World Cup is “not possible.”
The footballing world had waited for an official communication emerging from the quarters of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), especially after the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was slain by the United States during the continuing war.
The 48-team World Cup will be hosted in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, in which Iran has been scheduled in Group G together with the Red Devils of Belgium, All Whites of New Zealand and the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Team Melli will face New Zealand and Belgium in Inglewood, California, on June 15 and 21, respectively, before ending group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Ahmad Donyamali, Iran’s sports and youth minister, spoke on national television for the first time as an Iranian government official about the country’s participation in the world cup since the US and Israel commenced their attacks on Iran on February 28.
Donyamali stated, “Considering that this corrupt regime [the US] has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup. Our children are not safe and, fundamentally, such conditions for participation do not exist.”
“Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence.”
Mehdi Taj, the head of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, questioned his team’s participation last week but did not explicitly announce that they would boycott the event.
Story by Atakorah (Pramaso)
