Iran have complained to FIFA after the US remove the Islamic symbol from their flag online.
The Iranian Football Federation have complained to FIFA after the Islamic Republic emblem was removed from their flag in a social media post by the United States Men’s National team.
Ahead of their decisive World Cup game on Tuesday, where both sides have a chance of reaching the knockout stages of the tournament, the US removed the Allah symbol in graphics posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Americans said that they did this as a way to show ‘support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights’ amid anti-government protests in the country.
US Men's National Soccer Team's IG and Twitter accounts (@USMNT) have removed the Islamic Republic emblem from the Iran flag in anticipation of the #FIFAWorldCup USA versus Iran game on 11/29.
(Iranians are posting thanks on IG)#MahsaAmini pic.twitter.com/9As8xuDyK9
— Holly Dagres (@hdagres) November 26, 2022
According to the New York Times, a representative from Iran’s football federation has called for the USA to be ‘expelled’ from the World Cup as they have ‘disrespected’ Iran’s flag.
“In an unprofessional act, the Instagram page of the US football federation removed the Allah symbol from the Iranian flag,” Iran state news agency IRNA stated.
“The Iran Football Federation sent an email to FIFA to demand it issue a serious warning to the US federation.”
@usmnt US men’s soccer team has removed the #IslamicRepublic of Iran symbol from the center of the #IRIflag on its recent social media posts. (It appeared in a previous post, 5 days ago.) It still appears on @FIFAcom. pic.twitter.com/uE7yNc4Uv7
— Roxana Saberi (@roxanasaberi) November 26, 2022
A spokesperson for US Soccer said that the posts in question have been removed and replaced with ones showing the correct Iran flag before adding that they ‘still support the women of Iran’.
The USA and Iran cut diplomatic relations with each other in 1980.
Two days away. pic.twitter.com/iPz10sFNto
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) November 27, 2022
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