Federation of Iran accuses US of "vindictive behavior" for denied visas

The Iranian Football Federation is accusing the United States of adopting "vindictive behavior" by denying visas to members of the administrative and management team who would accompany the Iranian team to the World Cup.

The entity reported that 14 managers and employees had their visa applications refused before the next matches in Inglewood, California, and Seattle. The list includes the federation's vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, and general secretary, Hedayat Mombeini.

It was not immediately clear whether federation president Mehdi Taj had received a visa.

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Tensions between the United States and Iran have been high since the start of the war in February.

The conflict led Iran to move its training center from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The Mexican city is just across the US border, close to San Diego.

According to the Iranian Football Federation, the visa denials "effectively deprived the Iranian national team of the opportunity to compete on equal terms and in a competition free from discrimination."

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The Iranian team had been preparing for the World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, and was scheduled to travel to Mexico this Saturday (6). The team reported that they received their visas from the Mexican Embassy in Antalya.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the Iranian delegation would be closely monitored for people with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"We have no problem with the athletes, as we have previously stated, nor with their support team. But what we will not allow is for them to include in their delegation people who we know have no relationship with the sport and who have links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or something of that nature. Therefore, we will monitor this very closely," said Rubio

Iran, who are in Group G of the World Cup, will play matches against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both in Inglewood. The team will finish the group stage five days later in Seattle.

The United States and Iran could face each other on July 3, in Arlington, Texas, if both teams finish second in their respective groups.

USA allows Iran in the World Cup, but vetoes links to the Revolutionary Guard

Source: CNN