Iran demands FIFA show Israel ‘red card’ over deadly imposed war

The president of the Iranian Football Federation says the body has demanded that FIFA expel the Israeli regime from the body over its deadly imposed war against the Islamic Republic last month, which featured deadly and destructive attacks on Iranian athletes and sports-related facilities.

Mehdi Taj made the remarks in a televised interview on Monday, saying the federation has conveyed the request in a letter addressed to Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, senior vice-president of the FIFA Council.

“[The Israelis] attacked our territorial integrity, they attacked the Football Federation itself, they attacked the national team’s training camp, and they martyred our referee,” he said.

“Thirty of our country’s [football] players suffered injuries during the attacks,” the official added.

“We wrote that a decision must be made on this matter. We also wrote to FIFA, itself, stating that Israel should be shown a red card and expelled from the body."

The regime launched the war on June 13, carrying out heavily indiscriminate attacks against various targets across the Islamic Republic.

The aggression claimed the lives of at least 1,062 Iranians, including 100 athletes, some of whom were of a very young age.

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‘We’re skeptical of US’

Elsewhere in his remarks, Taj expressed skepticism regarding the US attitude towards Iranians in the 2026 World Cup, which is to be jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

"America is, in any case, America. It is hostile toward our country and bears a deep-seated animosity,” the official noted.

“There is absolutely no doubt about this. No one should be optimistic [about its behavior]. They will carry out any act of mischief they are capable of."

Taj went on to list a number of expected instances of behavior on the part of American officials vis-à-vis potential Iranian attendants.

He said Washington could go as far as refusing visas to the Iranian individuals accompanying the players and the national team’s staff to the US.

“There is also a chance they might try to humiliate us,” he added, saying American officials could also ask the national team to play its matches in a third country.

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Taj made the remarks against the backdrop of similar treatment previously shown by American sports authorities towards Iran’s wrestling and volleyball teams.

The official concluded his remarks by announcing that the Iranian Football Federation had formed a task force featuring representatives from the Ministry of Sports and Youths, the Football Federation, itself, and several other institutions towards developing a scenario for dealing with such unexpected conduct.

After decades of hostilities towards Iranian officials and civilians, including provision of lethal support to those attacking the Islamic Republic, the United States joined the Israeli regime in the war, striking several key Iranian nuclear facilities.

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