[49234] The uproar over Mehdi Taj’s deportation from Canada and the state of the Iranian national team ahead of the World Cup

The diplomatic tension surrounding the Iranian national team

The affair of denying entry to Canada for Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, continues to roil the system. According to reports in Iran International (known for its critical stance toward the Iranian regime), the deportation came after a revelation regarding a special exemption committee granted to him, and against the backdrop of Canada designating the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. Conversely, spokespeople for the football federation claimed, as published in Iran International Sport, that Taj refused a conversation with the Prime Minister of Canada and that it is an "unprecedented issue." Meanwhile, the conservative newspaper Vatan-e Emrooz defined the situation as "football in a minefield" and criticized the lack of guarantees from FIFA for the safety of the Iranian delegation in the US.

The sports front: Injuries and internal criticism

Alongside the political storm, the Iranian national team suffered a professional blow with the injury of star Ali Gholizadeh during a match in the Polish league. According to reports from The Latest Sports News, the player underwent MRI scans to assess whether he would miss the World Cup. Gholizadeh himself noted that "the kneecap popped out and went back into place," which is raising major concerns among Amir Ghalenoei’s coaching staff.

Inside Iran, sharp criticism is being heard regarding the conduct of the national team players. On the program "The Trick" on Iran International, commentator Mohammad Taghavi argued that the team does not represent the people due to the players' silence in the face of the suppression of protests and executions, and that the media is "debasing sports" by covering the preparations for the World Cup while the country is mired in a deep social crisis.

Additional reports

• The Higuain affair: Social media is buzzing over photos of former star Gonzalo Higuain looking disheveled, a topic that received extensive coverage on Iran International.


• The state of foreign workers: IRNA Agency reported on the risk of foreign players leaving Persepolis due to delays in their salary payments.


• Sir Alex Ferguson: Reports in Football Supreme confirmed that the former manager was taken to the hospital as a precaution after feeling unwell.