Iran Strongly Protests US Team's World Cup Expulsion Over Removed National Flag

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The anti-government protests sparked by the suspicious death related to the hijab that shook all of Iran have extended to the World Cup, escalating into political conflict. When the U.S. national soccer team showed solidarity with the protests in Iran by posting a modified version of the Iranian flag, Iranian media strongly opposed and demanded that the U.S. be expelled from the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

On the 27th (local time), according to CNN and The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Iran's state-run Tasnim News Agency reported that the U.S. is using a distorted image of Iran's national flag and called for the suspension and immediate expulsion of the U.S. team from the competition. This was in response to the U.S. soccer team posting a modified Iranian flag on their official social media.

The U.S. posted a graphic showing the Group B standings on the team's official social media accounts, in which the Islamic Republic emblem in the center of the Iranian flag was removed. The Iranian flag with the Islamic Republic emblem deleted was also posted commonly on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. The U.S. Soccer Federation later stated, "It is a gesture of support for the women fighting for human rights in Iran."

In response, Iranian authorities strongly opposed the move, calling it "an action to support anti-government protests within Iran," and announced plans to file a complaint against the U.S. team with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). A representative from the Iran Football Federation told the Associated Press, "It violates international law and is ethically problematic. We intend to address this through FIFA's Ethics Committee. The U.S. must be held accountable."

The U.S. and Iran, both in Group B of the Qatar World Cup, are scheduled to face each other on the 30th. The U.S. must win the match against Iran to advance to the round of 16. U.S. media have evaluated that the conflict with Iran is escalating politically ahead of this crucial match that will determine advancement to the round of 16.

In Iran, nationwide anti-government protests have spread since September after Iranian woman Mahsa Amini was taken by police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly and died under suspicious circumstances. During the government's crackdown on the protests that have lasted over two months, more than 300 people have died, and international warnings continue.

Earlier, during the first match against England on the 21st, Iranian national team players held a silent protest by not singing the national anthem. There has also been public opinion calling for Iran to be banned from the World Cup due to women's human rights issues within Iran and Iran's arms support to Russia, which invaded Ukraine.

The Associated Press quoted a U.S. team official explaining, "Posting the Iranian flag with the Islamic-related emblem removed was intended to support the movement of women in Iran to regain their basic human rights."