Iran's place at World Cup under threat over breach of FIFA laws
By Tom Gott
A formal request has been made to FIFA to kick Iran out of the 2022 World Cup over a breach of international guidelines relating to women's football.
Women have been repeatedly denied entry to football stadiums in Iran in recent months which, although there is no formal ban on women attending football matches, is seen as a breach of Article 19 of FIFA regulations.
A group of Iranian football and sports personalities, including FIFA referee Mohammad Reza Faghani, judo champion Vahid Sarlak and futsal international Shiva Amini, have all signed a letter sent to FIFA asking for Iran's expulsion from the tournament.
"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," the group said.
"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.
"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 statutes."
The complaint also follows a similar plea from human rights group Open Stadiums last month, calling for Iran to be banned from the tournament over its treatment of women.
FIFA have previously contacted Iran to demand more women be allowed into football stadiums but the group in question have insisted not enough is being done.
"The FIFA Council can and must immediately suspend Iran," they add.
"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."