Originally posted by Rooyintan
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I dont think he's specifically said he wants them banned. He's merely pointing out the discourse on the subject at the minute and the Iranian male and female sports men as well as the Ukranian FAs recent calls to ban Iran and, in light of the current goings on, the legitimate grounds they have of making this request where politics and sport have precedent of becoming intertwined (i.e. Russia's ban by FIFA) when taking into account undeniable Human Rights breaches and how they contravene with FIFA's own articles. FIFA have plenty of grounds to kick us out of the world cup and there would be no dispute other than people saying "dont mix politics and sport" but they have articles in place to protect them legally in order to take this action. It's been done before - see Euro 92 when Yugoslavia were expelled in place of Denmark, who went on to win that tournament. Personally, if we get removed I dont think Ukraine have a divine right to take our place, there are several teams that lost in playoffs that could make the case to be there.
... but to your point about him wanting our expulsion... if you read his later tweets in the thread, no matter how tongue in cheek they are, he actually states his dream scenario being that we play, our players are applauded as individuals rather than as a proxy for the regime... before he then tries to be funny talking about CQ becoming supreme leader etc. I think he like many Iranians would like to see our players play as they as sportsmen deserve to be there, to perform for the people and not be tainted by the government. In reality, with our name at this tournament being IR Iran... the sad reality is people on the outside looking in will just see the team as an extension of the regime and there's no meaningful protest the players can perform because of it's involvement in our football federation (one of the reasons we should be banned). Would love to see the players/fans make a meaningful statement that disassociates our team with the regime in the eyes of the international community but it's not gonna happen... if we do play, we'll just be painted as pariahs by the media and the vast majority will be pleased with our exit however early it comes.
His later tweets in the thread
6. I have been anticipating a competitive England v Iran game all my life. My dream game in fact. I would love to see Iran play Wales, England & USA. But with such blatant abuses of FIFA’s own charter, how on earth have Iran not been kicked out already?
7. Dream scenario? Game goes ahead. Iranian players applauded for showing up. Fans chant slogans throughout games. Iran score, players refuse to celebrate. The more they progress, the weaker the regime becomes.
8. After powering to the final in a wave of global good will, Iran play England again and win the World Cup. Return as heroes. Regime topples. I am voted President with an overwhelming majority. Carlos Quiroz becomes the first Supreme leader of the Portuguese Republic of Iran.
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