Iran takes on the United States in a decisive match in Group B on Tuesday
The Iranian Football Federation has filed a complaint with the International Federation of Association Football Clubs, FIFA, over the background of the removal of the Islamic Republic’s emblem from the Iranian flag, in a post by the US national team on social media.
The United States removed the coat of arms of the Islamic Republic, in photos posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The US side announced it had decided not to use the image of Iran’s official flag to show “support for women in Iran in their struggle for basic human rights” amid ongoing anti-government protests.
The protests that began on September 22, against the background of the killing of the young Mahsa Amini, while she was being arrested by the morality police, are undergoing a harsh repression.
“In an unprofessional act, the American Football Association’s Instagram page removed the symbol of God from the Iranian flag,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA said.
He added that “The Football Federation of Iran has sent an email to FIFA requesting a warning from the American FA.”
A USAF spokesman later said the posts had been removed and replaced with ones correcting the Iranian flag, but said, “We still support women in Iran.”
Iran finish second in the group on three points after an important win over Wales. The United States follows with two points.
The confrontation will largely determine the fate of either country in qualifying for the next round.
