Iran due to play group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle
Federation says decision ‘raises questions about interference of non-sporting considerations’
Iran’s football federation said on Tuesday its ticket allocation had been pulled just days before the World Cup starts, leaving supporters who had already made travel plans unable to attend their team’s matches.
The World Cup begins on Thursday, with Iran playing their first two Group G games in Los Angeles, against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June , and then facing Egypt in Seattle on 26 June. In a statement, the Iranian federation said it had already begun the ticket sales process for the matches but could no longer provide them to fans.
“This is despite the fact that many Iranian football fans, relying on the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the matches,” the FFIRI added in a statement. “Depriving Iranian supporters of access to their lawful and official allocation of tickets is an action contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.
