US soccer federation ruffles feathers of Iran by blurring national flag for a brief while on social media before the FIFA World Cup match
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USA vs Iran
The United States of America versus Iran group match in the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday is bound to grab eyeballs. Since the time the groups were announced by the FIFA, there has been much debate on this contest, dubbed a pot-boiler for reasons other than sport.
The first salvo was fired by the US soccer federation as they removed the Islamic Republic emblem from Iran’s national flag on social media, for a brief while. It led to an outrage among the Iranians, who are already facing flak from several quarters for what is happening back home.
If, first, during Iran’s lung opener, their own players decided not to sing the national anthem as a symbolic protest, there was a change of heart before the second match. It may have also been due to the backlash the players would have faced back home, as Iran continues to be tormented by protests from various sections in society.
What happened in September this year has rocked the world, where Mahsa Amini, 22, was killed in custody by the morality police. The protests by women have continued unabated in Iran, against the restrictions imposed by Islamic fundamentalists. Various ways of highlighting the atrocities inflicted by the fundamentalists is peaking, which is very sensational.
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Football alone will not be the flavour when US and Iran meet in Qatar in the FIFA World Cup match which has raised the temperature
The Western world, which has always been critical of Iran, has lambasted the Islamic state but it has not made a big difference. Social media has been taken by storm as these protests by women, cutting hair in public, removing the head scarf and so on are now symbolic of fighting suppression. Sadly, Iran as a society remains unmoved as the political dispensation cares two hoots about what the world thinks.
For its part, what the US soccer federation did by blanking the Islamic Republic emblem was symbolic. That it caused a stir was expected as relations between the two nations have been frosty, dating back to 60 years. The US thinks it is the Big Daddy and can bully anyone. Unfortunately, the Gulf region crises over decades, be it in Iraq or Iran has been handled in such a way, nobody has gained.
Iran’s football federation has complained to the FIFA, but, that again, is symbolic. There is no doubting the FIFA has bent backwards in Qatar to accommodate many things which were least expected, including the beer ban at venues and One Love logo disallowed for players at the World Cup. Mixed reactions came after the photo posted by US soccer.
Some hailed it while others feel this is a mind war before the big game. US soccer, or football is on a high after they held England to a draw. When the match is played in Qatar, the world is going to sit up and take notice for reasons other than sport. This is a great platform to indulge in one-upmanship.
There are many instances in the past when suppressed nations have found a voice of support from stronger nations through sports. You can imagine, this is just the trailer to what promises to be a pot-boiler of a contest between two nations who have massive ideological differences.
It will be more than a contest between two teams. What happens in the stands inside the stadium and fans of both the teams will be engrossing. Sadly, despite all the protests in Iran and women wanting to lead a life with respect, they are stifled. What US did with the Iran flag, symbolically, has stirred the hornet’s nest.
More could follow, as the Yanks have never kept quiet on matters concerning the Gulf region. They love bashing that region at the drop of a hat. Can they do it on the football field?
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)