WANA (May 01) – The President of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), Mehdi Taj, has provided an exhaustive account of his journey to Canada, describing a tense standoff with immigration authorities and his subsequent decision to boycott the FIFA Congress.
Taj revealed that despite possessing valid visas, both he and General Secretary Hedayat Mombini were subjected to aggressive screening and political questioning upon arrival at the airport.
Interrogation and the “90 Million” Response
Taj explained that after a long wait in a holding room, Canadian officials questioned the delegation members on whether they were part of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps).
Taj reportedly responded by stating that there are 90 million such members in Iran. When officials cited Article 79 or 179 of their regulations labeling the organization as a terrorist entity, Taj countered that the delegation was purely a sports entity and that political labels were irrelevant to their visit.
He further challenged the officials by stating that a country responsible for the bombing of 186 schoolchildren—where only a single shoe remained of the victims—is the true definition of a terrorist.
After several hours of heated dispute, Canadian authorities informed the delegation they were free to enter. However, Taj refused, stating that the group would not enter a country that treated invited guests with such disrespect.
He clarified that they were not deported but chose to fly ten hours back to Istanbul as a matter of national dignity. During this time, the FIFA Secretary-General reportedly made two video calls to Taj to condemn the treatment, but Taj questioned how FIFA could ensure the safety of players if it could not even protect a Federation President.
Defiance of U.S. and FIFA “Weakness”
The football chief expressed sharp frustration with what he described as FIFA’s “weakness” and its perceived intimidation by the United States. He noted that FIFA only issued empty condemnations when the Italian flag was incorrectly displayed in place of the Iranian flag. Taj specifically addressed remarks by the U.S. President regarding security concerns for the Iranian team, calling them “silly” and “worthless,” and criticized FIFA for failing to react to such rhetoric.
He emphasized that the “empty seat” left for Iran next to Sheikh Salman was a source of pride, carrying more weight than a hundred occupied seats.
Taj also revealed that the delegation had planned to display photographs of the “martyrs” of Minab at the FIFA Congress and read a letter from their families, but were prevented from doing so.
While FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly offered to send a private jet to Istanbul to bring the delegation to the Congress, Taj and his colleagues decided to return to Iran after consulting with domestic officials.
Future Outlook and National Diplomacy
The FFIRI President confirmed that FIFA has sent a formal letter condemning the events in Canada and has requested a detailed meeting at FIFA headquarters.
Taj insisted that the scope of these discussions must now expand to include the treatment of journalists, fans, and anyone who has served in the Iranian armed forces. He stressed that soccer is not exempt from the nation’s broader diplomacy and that the federation will not retreat from its official positions.
Regarding the World Cup, Taj dismissed external comments on Iran’s participation, stating that the team earned its place on the “green rectangle” and not as a gift.
He concluded by reaffirming that the federation must remain worthy of representing the Iranian people, stating that the nation is in a “war” of resistance that it is proud of, and that the team will participate based on the same principles that govern the country’s diplomacy.