INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Iran took another step toward a World Cup berth Sunday, but again His play off the field was dominant. conversation.
At least one spectator wearing a pre-revolutionary flag shirt was detained after the match as he tried to run onto the pitch. And while the demonstrations were quieter than on Monday, an Associated Press reporter saw fans scuffle with protesters being loaded into ambulances.
But before the game began, Markwayne Mullin of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Sunday that Iran “yesterday attempted to bring in individuals with direct ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.” The soccer federation strongly objected in a statement.
“The claim that an official representative of the Iranian Football Federation attempted to board a flight to enter the United States yesterday but was prevented is a complete and undeniable lie,” the statement said.
Marin told Fox News that most teams travel with about 120 people, but the U.S. hosted 53 people. In the case of Iran. He said the remaining people for whom Iran tried to obtain visas “have direct ties to the Revolutionary Guards and are not a normal travel group.” The federation said Marin’s claims “are not supported by any evidence or documentation, but are also a clear attempt to cover up discriminatory practices and unreasonable restrictions.”
The statement echoed Iranian complaints during the tournament that politics was infringing on soccer. US Vice President JD Vance He said there was an opportunity for a “fresh start” as talks began in Switzerland on an interim agreement to end the war. Iranian players and coaches I complained about the round trip. The federation announced it would pursue a lawsuit against FIFA after banning participants from arriving and departing from Mexico instead of Tucson, Arizona, and banning some executives and staff.
Iran national team player Alireza Jahanbakhsh said after the match that they do not intend to continue focusing on the difficult situation and that the players are currently focused on recovery and preparing to travel to Seattle for the next game against Egypt. He said he hopes the team gets there as soon as possible to adapt.
“We’re not asking for much, we’re just asking for the same procedures as all 47 other teams,” he said. “I hope we can bring all the parties involved and work together.”
At a stadium near Los Angeles, fans wearing green and red scarves, stickers and T-shirts were confused about the implications of the team’s changes. Crossing the Mexican border by train. Some said it was an unfair burden on the team, while others followed the team to Tijuana and were excited to be closer to the players.
Shamila Gharmaghami, 66, who lives in nearby Orange County, said she was rooting for athletes from her home country of Iran and Belgium. She said she respects the protesters’ right to express their opinions, but feels sports should bring people together, not separate them.
“We shouldn’t confuse sports and politics, the fights over these things,” she said. “They actually both worked very hard to get to where they are.”
Hundreds of people demonstrated against the Iranian government outside the stadium. Aside from some altercations and post-match brawls, the protests were smaller than at Iran’s first game, and security was beefed up from the start. Inside, some fans held up red and green flags with golden lions and a sun, which were created before the 1979 Islamic revolution. The flag was at least as prominent as Iran’s official flag. They were joined by Belgian fans dressed in red and yellow, as well as scores of fans wearing jerseys from countries such as Argentina, the United States and Mexico.
Gerardo Martinez, 66, of Tucson, was wearing a green Iranian scarf. Although not Iranian, he and his son decided to support the team when it first announced they would be training in their homeland.
“I wish they were all here. I wish they were welcome,” Martinez said, adding that he felt his team was at a disadvantage.
Stefan Aerts, 42, who traveled from Antwerp, Belgium, said he met many Iranians who were rooting for their team. That’s how Arman Sharif, 40, of Los Angeles feels. He was outside the stadium in protest and said he felt the players were allied with the Tehran government.
“We are fans of our opponents, no matter who they are,” Sharif said.
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Associated Press reporters Ty O’Neal, Gregory Bull and Andrew Dalton in Inglewood, California. Gabriela Aung Angueira in San Diego and Thomas Strong in Washington contributed to this report.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
