Gharibabadi: Hosting World Cup should not become a tool for selective behavior against a national team

Pars Today - Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said has said that any illegal restrictions against Iran's sports delegation will be a serious test for FIFA and the host country (US).

According to Pars Today, Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy for Legal and International Affairs of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized on Thursday that hosting the World Cup creates a clear obligation for any host country: ensuring equal, respectful, and non-discriminatory participation for all teams that have qualified for the competition through FIFA's official channels.

Gharibabadi stressed: Visas, entry, accommodation, travel, the presence of official representatives, and the executive conditions of the matches must not become tools for exerting political pressure or selective behavior against a national team.

He further noted that Iran's national football team has earned its right to be on the field based on FIFA regulations. Any obstruction to the entry of players, coaching staff, federation officials, or essential members of Iran's delegation would violate the spirit and purpose of the World Cup competition and would contradict the fundamental principles governing international sports, including equality, non-discrimination, and fairness of competition.