WANA (Apr 30) – The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that its president, Mehdi Taj, along with Secretary-General Hedayat Mombeini and Deputy Secretary-General Hamed Momeni, decided to return after facing inappropriate treatment at Toronto airport.

 

According to the statement, the delegation had traveled to Canada with official visas to attend the FIFA Congress. However, following what was described as “unacceptable behavior” by immigration authorities, they chose not to continue their trip and returned to Turkey on the first available flight. The statement also claimed that an insult was directed at one of Iran’s armed forces institutions during the incident.

 

Following the event, FIFA officials contacted the Iranian delegation, expressing deep regret over the incident. They also announced that a meeting between the FIFA president and senior officials of Iran’s football federation will be held soon at FIFA headquarters to discuss arrangements for the Iranian national team’s participation in the World Cup.