Iran players and staff have condemned their treatment at the FIFA World Cup in the United States after being instructed to depart the country 'immediately' following their 2-2 draw with New Zealand .
Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei disclosed his team had no opportunity to recuperate after an exciting game at the Los Angeles Stadium, stating they were being made to return to their training facility in Mexico amid continuing political tensions.
Significant questions surrounded the team's qualification to compete in the tournament, stemming from the ongoing conflict with the United States. President Donald Trump had even cautioned that it would not be safe for the players to travel to the competition this summer, with Iran opting to move their training headquarters from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, on the eve of the World Cup.
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11 members of their traveling delegation were refused visas to enter the U.S., and as part of the arrangement for them to participate in the tournament, they had just a few hours following the final whistle in their matches to exit the country.
"They didn't even give us time to recover," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter after the draw with New Zealand, via The Mirror . "After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately.'
"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. They delayed our arrivals, and they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery.
"They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best. That's why I think we are the most oppressed team in the World Cup."
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Those feelings were echoed by Iran striker Mehdi Taremi , who condemned the treatment of his nation at the tournament. He said: "FIFA told us you have to go because it's our preparation. It's supposed to be, as I said, tomorrow morning recovery, then we fly to Tijuana, then return to LA again.
"But now, right now, we have to go back, and I don't know who, because it's between the federation and FIFA. And also, we don't have that, because we don't have our media, we don't have our president of federation, we don't have vice president, and no one, some staff also, which is so important for us. It doesn't have any communication with the FIFA and for the players.
"As you see, our analyser, for example, have come here doing the job of the media, and you know, everything is a disaster, actually, for us. It's not the right thing for us, but we don't follow the excuse, we're just looking forward, we're having hope for the next two games, and we will do our best for our people, and we bring the joy for our supporters."
When pressed further on who instructed Iran to vacate the country, Taremi indicated it occurred prior to the match, though he was unable to identify exactly who issued the directive to leave immediately. He described the circumstances as a "disaster," disclosing that FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid a visit to the squad at Los Angeles Stadium and, from the star's perspective, suggested the boss was attempting to "help" them.
"But it's about other things, too," he continued. "You know, everyone knows it. It doesn't need to mention that because, you know, where we are."
