Iran state media wants the USA football team to be expelled from Qatar World Cup as the US Soccer Federation supported Iranian protesters and changed the country’s flag on the federation’s social media platform.
Reason Behind Controversy
The federation displayed Iran’s flag on its official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts without the Islamic Republic emblem. The graphical picture of the Group B standings included the flag of Iran with its three colors only, and the image was deleted later.
The Explanation
US Soccer explained that the flag had been changed for twenty-four hours only to support the Iranian women fighting for their fundamental human rights, which would bring the original flag back. The federation also added that it didn’t change the flag on its place, including its website.
The US state department said it supports the Iranians in their protest against the state’s violence but also wants a peaceful game.
The Demand of the Iran State Media
Iran state media demanded the kick out of the USA team from World Cup 2022 and suspension for ten games for distorting the image of a country’s flag.
However, FIFA was not available to comment on this matter.
How do Iran and USA Stand in the World Cup?
Iran and the USA are supposed to face each other on Tuesday in a Group B match. If it has to survive in the tournament, the US must win the game.
The Iran Crisis
Iran has participated in Qatar World Cup 2022 amid domestic turmoil. There have been protests everywhere in the country, for human rights and against the Government policy of violence.
International relations experts assume the crisis to be the most significant since the 1979 Iranian revolution.
After Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman, died in detention by morality police due to disobeying the conservative dress code, protests sparked furiously. Iran’s security forces tortured the protesters on the streets ruthlessly.