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Iranian soccer chief ‘denied entry into Canada’ for Fifa event weeks before World Cup
TL;DR
Iranian soccer officials, including the president of the Iranian Football Federation, were denied entry into Canada for a FIFA event in Vancouver. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister stated the denial was unintentional, following a report from an Iranian news agency.
Key points
- Iranian soccer officials denied entry into Canada
- Denial occurred ahead of FIFA Congress meeting
- Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister confirmed the denial
Mentioned in this story
Iranian Football FederationMehdi TajFIFACanadaVancouverIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and Fifa president Gianni Infantino in Tehran in 2018 (AFP/Getty)
Iranian soccer officials were reportedly denied entry into Canada ahead of the Fifa Congress meeting in Vancouver, just weeks before the start of the World Cup.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated on Wednesday that it was her "understanding" that permission for their entry had been revoked.
Ms Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), though she described the denial as "unintentional".
Tasnim had reported that Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, along with two other Iranian officials, were refused entry due to "inappropriate behavior of immigration officials" at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
"It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the minister to indicate," Ms Anand said, seemingly referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.
Gianni Infantino has remained adamant Iran will play at the World Cup (Reuters)
Q&A
Why were Iranian soccer officials denied entry into Canada?
Iranian soccer officials were denied entry due to a revocation of permission, which the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister described as unintentional.
What is the significance of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver?
The FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver is significant as it occurs just weeks before the World Cup, highlighting international soccer governance and relations.
Who is Mehdi Taj and what role does he play in Iranian soccer?
Mehdi Taj is the president of the Iranian Football Federation, responsible for overseeing soccer activities and representation in Iran.
