The tension, on the eve of the debut, is not only palpable but concrete, manifest and a question is enough for the Portuguese to explode Charles Queirozcoach of Iran at the center of an international dispute that has moved a substantial nucleus of dissident intellectuals and the Ukrainian Federation to reiterate how and to what extent the failure to respect international rights should also indignant Fifa.
And how unacceptable is that Irantwo months and more after the horrific death of Masha Believe and the repression against the protests that followed, can occupy a place at these World Cups with the endorsement of FIFAwhich also has a regulation. A surge of indignation on social media that moved a journalist at a press conference and who also in Italy it has its repercussions.
Italy, Roberto Mancini confesses his disappointment in the World Cup
Not later than Tuesday, the blue coach Robert Mancini he expressed his disappointment with respect to the exclusion from this edition of the World Cup: “It will be a difficult month”, he explained during the press conference that anticipated the match against Albania.
Thirty days that will also put two extreme situations in front of the Azzurri, which we have followed in months: participation of Ecuador it is the case Byron Castillo and the presence of Iran on the draw which has aroused the reaction from dissidents, representatives of civil society and also from the Ukrainian Federation.
Qatar 2022 World Cup, Byron Castillo injured on the eve of his debut
As is known from the World Cup calendar, the debut match scheduled for December 20 is Qatar-Ecuadorrepresentative at the center of the news due to the dispute by Chile and Peru of irregularities related to the origins of Byron Castillo.
Castle he will be in Qatar, but should miss the opening match against the hosts: the right-back was injured in the half hour of the friendly played by the national team against Iraq. The 24-year-old suffered a bad injury to his ankle and left the pitch, limping conspicuously causing the technical team to keep him out at least in this first round as a precaution.
Just the footballer was at the center of a much debated and controversial investigation, close to the event, which ended with the participation in any case of Ecuadornation that has seen its legitimate right to participate recognized by the Fifa and by the competent bodies.
Iran and the violation of human rights
Iran is inserted in Group B of the World Cup in Qatar with England, the United States and Wales: next Monday there will be the debut with the Three Lions, an already oppressive challenge, almost written for Iran which on paper does not have many opportunities to shine from the point of view of the game. In the press conference, as much as the coach tries to leave out things that do not directly concern the pitch, he cannot avoid dealing with the questions posed by accredited journalists ready to question him, given the dramatic situation in the country crossed by protest movements transverals who have invested, as expected, also football and the participation in Qatar of the representative team.
When asked an uncomfortable question, on the condition of women and the violation of civil rights in Iran, Queiroz takes on a very different tone, decidedly defensive and one of obvious difficulty and tension. The coach tries the path of reply with a touch of irony, to divert from complex issues that would have placed him in a difficult position with unforeseen consequences.
The reporter of Sky Sportsauthor of the question deemed provocative, had asked him:
“Do you feel comfortable representing a country like Iran in this World Cup, which represses women’s rights?”.
The frost comes down: “Who do you work for? How much can you pay me to answer this question? At the end of the World Cup I will be able to give you an adequate answer… but first talk to your boss and let me know if you can make me a good offer”.
At this point, the technician seems to want to get up and leave, also to avoid that there is an answer and that this utterance raises further questions to which he would be called to answer.
“Don’t put words in my mouth that I haven’t said – he added -. I’m just asking how much you’re willing to pay me to answer these questions.” The discussion ends there, not without a further jab from the coach: “I think he should stop and reflect on what happened with the immigrants in England. Think about it…”.
The situation in Iran: the intellectuals’ request to Fifa
In Iranthe forms of repression carried out by the “morality police” have aroused great confusion and indignation for what has managed to leak through the media. Queiroz he got away with referring to Fifa’s suggestions on the opportunity not to pay attention to extra-football, political and religious issues in Qatar:
“Players are free to protest as they would if they came from any other country – admitted the coach -. As long as their attitude respects the World Cup regulations and is in the spirit of the game. My players have only one thing in mind and that is to fight to qualify for the second round.”
The movement calling for Iran’s exclusion from the World Cup
In addition to the letter drawn up by the lawyers in charge, at the request of a group of dissident intellectuals distant from what is happening to the population participating in the protests, also the Ukrainian Federation had raised the issue to the attention of Fifa of the legitimacy and compatibility with the participation regulation of Iran at the World Cup.
An issue on which no clear action has been taken, entrusting the solution to the qualification plan and, de facto, letting Iran would participate. On social media, the request, and even more, the reply from Fifa had aroused very disparate reactions among the fans: the Azzurri were hoping for a repechage, unlikely, of Italy with the exclusion of Iran and so also the most ardent supporters of respect for human rights who supported the need to avoid the participation in the World Cup of the representative of a country in which fundamental rights were denied in such a condition.
VIRGIL SPORTS
