|
In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday,
the organisation said Iranian authorities continued to refuse to
allow female fans access to games inside the country despite
pressure from the game's governing body.
"The Iranian FA is not only an accomplice of the crimes of the
regime. It is a direct threat to the security of female fans in
Iran and wherever our national team plays in the world. Football
should be a safe space for us all," the letter said.
"That is why, as Iranian football fans, it is with an extremely
heavy heart that we have to raise our deepest concern about
Iran's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
"Why would FIFA give the Iranian state and its representatives a
global stage, while it not only refuses to respect basic human
rights and dignities, but is currently torturing and killing its
own people?
"Where are the principles of FIFA's statues in this regard?
"Therefore, we ask FIFA, based on Articles 3 and 4 of its
statutes, to immediately expel Iran from the World Cup 2022 in
Qatar."
The articles cited cover the issues of human rights and
non-discrimination based on gender, race, religion and other
matters, with breaches punishable by suspension or expulsion
from the global body.
Neither FIFA nor Iran's FA immediately responded to a Reuters
request for comment.
The call comes as protests continued in several cities across
Iran on Thursday against the death of young woman in police
custody, state and social media reported, as a human rights
group said at least 83 people had been killed in nearly two
weeks of demonstrations.
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi has described the unrest as the
latest in a series of moves against Iran by hostile Western
powers since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Open Stadiums have campaigned over the last decade for women to
be allowed to attend football matches in Iran, but with only
limited success.
Under pressure from Infantino, a small group of female fans were
granted access to Persepolis's home leg of the 2018 Asian
Champions League final in Tehran.
But there has been minimal progress since, with female fans
barred from entering Iran's World Cup qualifying game against
Lebanon in Mashad in March, with video emerging of female
supporters being pepper sprayed outside the stadium.
The Carlos Queiroz-coached national team played friendly matches
during the recent international break against Uruguay and
Senegal in Austria, with both games played behind closed doors
over security concerns.
Iran are due to appear at their sixth World Cup finals and have
been drawn to face England, Wales and the United States in
Qatar.
(Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
