Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
FIFA has revoked the ticket allocation for Iran fans at the team’s three World Cup games in the United States, the national soccer federation has claimed.
Each federation for the 48 teams taking part is entitled to receive and distribute eight per cent of stadium capacity at the World Cup, adding up to several thousand tickets per game.
Just days before Iran opens its World Cup campaign — on June 15 at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium against New Zealand — the federation claimed in a statement reported by semi-official state media that it was now unable to provide any tickets to its supporters.
FIFA has been approached for comment.
The claim adds to the turmoil between Iranian soccer, FIFA and tournament co-host the US, which with Israel began military attacks on Iran on February 28.
Iran’s team is now based in the Mexican border city of Tijuana instead of its pre-war plan to train in Tucson, Arizona.
Some federation officials also have been denied visas to enter the US, where Iran also plays Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before meeting Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Federations of World Cup teams typically sell their ticket allocation to the most loyal fans who attend games at home and away.
Iran residents have been subject to a travel ban by the US government since last year and were unlikely to get entry visas for the World Cup.
It was unclear how many tickets in Iran’s allocation were sold since the tournament draw was made in December to the country’s diaspora including in the US.
Still, FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated in 2017 — when US soccer officials were preparing the co-hosting bid with Canada and Mexico they won the following year — that fans must have access to the tournament.
“It’s obvious when it comes to FIFA competitions … any team, including the supporters and the officials of that team, who would qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country, otherwise there is no World Cup,” Infantino said nine years ago.
A FIFA-appointed match referee from Somalia was denied entry to the US in Miami at the weekend and on Monday he was ruled out of taking part in the 104-game tournament that starts on Thursday.
