WANA (Jul 14) – The FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey ended with Chelsea beating Paris Saint-Germain 3–0. But the match result wasn’t the only controversial topic of the night. Political undercurrents and public reactions turned the spotlight onto Alireza Faghani, the Iranian-born but Australian national and resident who refereed the game.

 

Alireza Faghani is an internationally recognized referee with experience officiating at the World Cup and the Olympics. His selection for this final was technically justifiable, but many argued it couldn’t be separated from political considerations: the closing ceremony took place on U.S. soil, with President Donald Trump attending. In recent days, Trump had been involved in supporting Israel’s military campaign against Iran, ordering strikes that, according to official Iranian sources, killed over a thousand people in what Iranian media described as a “12-day imposed war” on the country.

 

After the match, Trump appeared as the special guest at the trophy and medal ceremony alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. He personally placed the honorary medal around Faghani’s neck. Photos of the three smiling together, posing in celebratory gestures, sparked a wave of criticism from Iranian social media users. Critics accused Faghani of turning a blind eye to military attacks and bloodshed in his homeland in exchange for fame and a prize—essentially bowing before a “foreign aggressor.”

 

Some users pointed to the example of renowned football manager Pep Guardiola, who had previously refused to shake hands with an Israeli official at a ceremony. They argued that even if FIFA protocols required Faghani to attend and receive the medal, he could at least have avoided the victory poses and posting the images on his personal page—especially since, according to critics, other refereeing team members did not take similar photos with Trump.

Faghani's shared cheerful, friendly photo with the U.S. president on his own social media / WANA News Agency

Faghani’s shared cheerful, friendly photo with the U.S. president on his own social media / WANA News Agency

Meanwhile, some media outlets explored deeper layers of the incident, arguing that Faghani’s selection for this final in the U.S. should not be seen as a purely sporting matter. From this perspective, Trump’s appearance at the awards ceremony beside an Iranian-born referee now representing Australia carried symbolic messages—revealing, in the eyes of some, hidden political and sporting interactions.

 

But the story didn’t end there. PSG supporters displayed Palestinian flags in the stands during the match, expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine and Gaza. This simultaneous act created a stark contrast with the friendly images of Faghani and Trump in the media, raising further questions about the symbolic role of athletes and referees in political and ethical contexts.

 

In Iran’s public sphere, this controversy also erupted against the backdrop of recent days when some athletes had paid tribute to their country by saluting during the national anthem or sharing messages of solidarity with their people. Comparing those gestures with Faghani’s friendly photos with Trump added fuel to the criticism, with some Iranian users describing it as “rubbing salt in the wounds” of families of recent victims.

 

Even Faghani’s defenders acknowledged that under official protocols, he could not have refused the medal or skipped the closing ceremony. But what drew the most ire was his voluntary decision to share cheerful, friendly photos with the U.S. president on his own social media—an act many saw as disregarding the raw emotions of the Iranian public.

 

Alireza Faghani is a highly successful and experienced referee who in recent years has emigrated to Australia and now officiates under its flag in international competitions. His technical skills as a referee have rarely been in doubt. But this time, the criticism of his choices wasn’t about the 90 minutes on the pitch—but the final minutes of the ceremony, captured by cameras for all to see.