Iranian sports officials on Monday criticized the treatment of its World Cup team in the United States, suggesting protocol established amid the conflict between the two countries negatively impacted its performance in Los Angeles.
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they were the “most oppressed” team at the World Cup, following his team’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Monday evening. Iran said the team arrived in the U.S. on Sunday from its World Cup home base in Tijuana, Mexico, after facing over five hours of travel and security checks during what’s typically a very short trip to the Los Angeles area. Officials inferred that politically charged diplomatic and bureaucratic hurdles fueled issues during the country’s first match.
“Before the game, I said we haven’t had time to adjust because of the travel,” Ghalenoei said. “Many of our players, they had cramps, and that’s why we had to substitute them. So, it wasn’t for technical reasons that we made substitutions. It was because of the injury and because of the cramp. They will be examined (Tuesday) by our technical staff, but the fact they delayed our arrivals and they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery, they are making the situation more difficult.”
The coach said the team had expected to arrive in Los Angeles two nights before the game, but were not permitted to do so. The team had also expected to stay overnight following the match and have a recovery session the following day, but were instructed immediately following the game to return swiftly to their Mexico base, Ghalenoei alleged, saying he had “no idea why.” Ghalenoei did not specify who ordered them to fly back to Tijuana.
“It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, (but) we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that,” he said. “We don’t know why they’re returning us, to be honest. I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us.”
“I think our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup,” Ghalenoei complained. “Our federation isn’t here, our media isn’t here, our management isn’t here.”
The Iranian team is set to return to Los Angeles for a meeting with Belgium on June 21, along with its final Group G game against Egypt in Seattle on 27 June.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in late April that Iran would play in the World Cup, amid global tensions triggered by the U.S.’s conflict with the country.
“The reason for that is very simple,” he said. “Dear friends, it’s because we have to unite, we have to bring people together. It is my responsibility, it is our responsibility — football unites the world, FIFA unites the world, you unite the world, we unite the world.”