Iran slam FIFA, plans to set conditions for World Cup participation

Iran is marked absent as FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom (4th L) conducts roll call during the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver. Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press via ZUMA Press/dpa

The Iranian football body FFIRI has sharply criticized football governing body FIFA and intends to set conditions for participating in the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico in June and July.

"I have never seen FIFA act so weakly," FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

Instead of taking action against "insults and humiliations directed at Iran," FIFA is allowing itself to be intimidated by politics and is content with "merely verbal condemnations."

According to Taj, FIFA must above all prevent US President Donald Trump from interfering in the sporting affairs of the World Cup.

Iran qualified on their own merits, he said, and Trump is "not in a position to decide whether we are allowed to participate in the World Cup or not." Iran do not need "permission" from Washington, he added.

Taj also said that the federation plans to outline its specific conditions for participating in the World Cup during a meeting with FIFA representatives.

Among other things, the FFIRI wants to ensure that there are no political comments directed against the team or the federation during the matches, that the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is used, and that comprehensive security is guaranteed for players, coaching staff, and officials.

"FIFA must assure us of this, and we will participate only under these conditions," he said.

Iran's participation in the World Cup has become a question mark since the escalation of the conflict against the US and Israel.