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Pre-revolutionary Iran flag barred from World Cup stadiums by FIFA
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- Pre-revolutionary Iran flag barred from World Cup stadiums by FIFA
World Cup fans are banned from bringing in pre-revolutionary Iran flags and apparel to stadiums this summer — while the controversial Palestinian flag will be allowed.
FIFA has ruled items with the symbolism will not be permitted at this year's iteration of the globe's most-famous soccer tournament, The Athletic reported on Tuesday .
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FIFA says the flag violates their code of conduct, which states "banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature" will not be allowed at event venues.
Iranian supporters wave Pahlavi-era flags during a football match. AFP via Getty Images
The Palestinian flag is an "officially approved flag of a member association of FIFA," The Athletic reported.
Emel Karsaz, an Iran ian living in Los Angeles who describes herself as a Iranian-American advocate for freedom in Iran, told The California Post on Tuesday that she's not expecting FIFA's ban to change much.
She said she believes the Iranian soccer team "is basically representing IRGC" and "not representing people," and she's anticipating Iranians to show up to matches with the pre-revolutionary flags en masse.
An Iran fan holding a pre-revolution Iranian flag at a FIFA World Cup match. Getty Images
"I'm sure it's going to make everyone so angry that I'll bet you anything there's going to be a huge protest," she said.
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"The Iranians will do anything in their power to basically come and do the protest and tell the world that they are not our team."
Iran and US policy expert Karim Sadjadpour, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, echoed Karsaz's opinion during an interview with The Athletic.
"Trying to prohibit Iranians in LA from bringing the Lion and Sun flag into the stadium is like trying to prevent Americans from bringing the U.S. flag into an American stadium," Sadjadpour said. "It would cause mass unrest."
Pre-revolutionary Iran imagery contains a lion holding a sword and a sun over a green-, white- and red-striped background.
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In 1980, following the Islamic Revolution, the country adopted a new national image, which features an Islamic emblem over the same green, white and red bars.
FIFA has banned the old Iranian imagery before.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, fans bearing attire with the lion and sun on it were turned away, according to The Athletic.
Iranian football fan waves an Iranian flag during the AFC Asian Cup 2023 quarter-finals. Anadolu via Getty Images
The outlet states the pre-revolutionary imagery is often displayed at public events "by those in the Iranian diaspora as a symbol of identity and protest."
The World Cup kicks off next month in Canada , Mexico and the United States. Iran will open its group stage slate of games against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
