Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 3:53 PM• Paul Jeursen • Last update: 15:56

A group of current and former top athletes from Iran wants their country to be banned from participating in the World Cup in Qatar. They have demanded this in a letter to FIFA. The initiators, including former football internationals and former karatekas, judokas and wrestlers, sent the letter in collaboration with a Spanish law firm. FIFA has so far declined to comment.

Last week, the Ukrainian Football Association also called for Russia and Iran to be banned from the World Cup. Sardar Pashaei, former junior world wrestling champion and national team coach, said: Reuters know that ‘Iran is unlike any other country’. “A football association should be independent, but here it is one big joke. Everything is in the hands of The Revolutionary Guard, a terrorist group. Everything is checked. We contacted FIFA and said enough is enough. We believe Iran is killing protesters. They should be banned until we have a democratic country like any other country in the world.”

Former karate champion Mahdi Jafargholizadeh points out the main motivation for the letter. “Football is the best way to make our voices heard. There is zero internet connection between Iran and foreign countries, so how can people hear us? Everyone around the world will wonder what happened to Iran.” Pashaei wondered aloud what the difference is between Iran and Russia. He was referring to the measures taken by FIFA against Russia: FIFA does not allow them to participate in the approaching World Cup. “I really urge them not to play against the Iranian regime and send this message to FIFA. The regime that has killed innocent people does not deserve to be at the World Cup.”

Iran has been experiencing a wave of protests since mid-September. These arose after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian who was arrested for allegedly breaking Iran’s dress code. On September 27, before the friendly game between Iran and Senegal, Iranian football players wore black jackets without a federation logo, in protest against the violent crackdown on demonstrations in their own country. Iran is in Group B at the World Cup with England, the United States and Wales.