Iran launch extraordinary attack over ‘oppressive’ World Cup treatment in USA… and claim they have been FORCED to leave

Iran have condemned the ‘oppressive’ and ‘disastrous’ treatment meted out to them during this World Cup, claiming they would be kicked out of the US immediately after the opening match on Monday night.

Striker Mehdi Taremi, who scored a spectacular strike following the 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, has pleaded with FIFA to ‘help’ resolve the ‘unfair’ World Cup ordeal.

After months of uncertainty and chaos due to the war between Iran and the United States, Amir Ghalenoei’s team finally began its World Cup campaign at SoFi Stadium on Monday night.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the Iranian dressing room after the match and a few minutes later, Ghalenoei and Taremi claimed that US officials forced them to return to their Tijuana base against their will.

“Actually, everything is a disaster for us… we still have some problems because we have to train tomorrow morning, recover and then leave for Tijuana,” Taremi said.

‘But we have to leave Los Angeles right now, and that’s not good for us. This is not good from a football point of view, because in the World Cup you have to prepare well for the next match, because it creates a lot of stress for the players, the staff and everyone. But we don’t have that support and I think FIFA needs to help us more than that.’

“Our team is the team under the most pressure in the World Cup,” said head coach Amir Ghalenoei.

Mohammad Mohebi equalized for Iran in the second half, ensuring the match ended 2-2.

Taremi claimed that Iranian players asked Infantino why they were sent off. When asked what the FIFA president said to them in the dressing room, Taremi added: ‘NHe just wants to help us.

‘It’s now the start of the World Cup and he will help us… we believe everything he says.’

Teammate Mohammad Mohebi said the treatment they received was not ‘fair’ and Ghalenoei echoed his players’ sentiments, saying: ‘They said we had to leave immediately.

‘It’s very important for us to have time to heal, but yet we were asked to return to Tijuana and we’re really upset about that… We don’t know why they sent us back. ‘I think this is very strange.’

The head coach continued: ‘It seems like other people are doing the planning for us, decisions are being made elsewhere, which is how we should be. [to arrive] It was two nights before the game and we weren’t allowed in.

‘We were supposed to stay the night and return tomorrow for lunch, but I don’t know why and they didn’t tell me. [us]… our team is the most pressured team in the whole World Cup.’

Before the start of the tournament, an agreement was reached that Iran, which played all group matches in the USA, would enter and exit the country on the day of the match.

Infantino is understood to have told the team he would do his best to ensure more Iranian officials who cannot obtain visas could travel to the US for the final two group matches.

In the dressing room, Infantino praised the team for their participation and said their actions were ‘sending a strong message to the world’.

He told them: ‘You have shown your families, your friends, your people, the world that you are in the World Cup, you are performing and you have two more games to go.

‘In these two matches you will make everyone in the world proud of what you have done once again. “Thank you for being here,” he said, and his words were met with applause.

After months of uncertainty, Iran’s World Cup opener ends in a draw against New Zealand

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was among the crowd at SoFi Stadium on Monday night

Iranian Mehdi Ghayedi in action with New Zealander Michael Boxall

‘This is also a great feeling. I know and understand what you are going through, but you are stronger than anything.

‘You are sending a strong message to the whole world. You’ve united the whole stadium here like tonight, you’ve united the whole stadium behind you, behind Team Melli. You are sending a very powerful message to the world.

‘Let me say something else: This is just the beginning of the World Cup. You are making history, the whole world is watching you. Keep playing with your heart for your people, your families, your fans and everyone in the world who loves Team Melli. You are stronger than anything.’

Since the outbreak of war in February, Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been surrounded by uncertainty. While Donald Trump warned them not to come ‘for their own lives and safety’, Iran moved its base from Arizona to Mexico. About a dozen members of the delegation were later denied visas.

All but one of Iran’s players sang their national anthem before kick-off at SoFi Stadium

Iran flew to Los Angeles in the afternoon before Monday’s game, and Taremi suggested the team was facing delays at the US border.

‘We [should] Come here two days before the match,’ Mohebi insisted. ‘We arrived yesterday, set out in the morning, and arrived in the afternoon.

‘Then we go to training and we get tired. I think we need to come here two days before the match. This kind of thing isn’t fair at all. ‘We need fair competition.’

Taremi was then asked if he had a message for President Trump. ‘I’m here to play football, man,’ he said. ‘We are tired of talking’ [the problems].

‘And if they help us, it would be greatly appreciated… if no one helps us, it doesn’t matter. ‘We just stay back to back, have each other’s backs and try to do our best to win the next two games.’

Iran will return to the United States to face Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday before facing Egypt in Seattle.

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