Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter Criticizes: "Iran Should Be Excluded from the World Cup"

"Gianni Infantino FIFA President's Ambiguous Position Difficult to Accept"
Former and Current Iranian Sports Officials Also Urge Suspension of Iran's Participation

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] Amid intense human rights controversy over Iran, including the harsh crackdown on 'hijab protests,' former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has argued that Iran should be excluded from the list of participating countries in the Qatar World Cup.

On the 13th (local time), in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Blick, former President Blatter said, "I cannot understand why Iran, which has faced international criticism for oppressing women, is still on the list of participating countries," adding, "Iran's football team should be banned from the World Cup."

He emphasized, "It is difficult to accept that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has not taken a clear stance on Iran," and said, "If I were president, I would have excluded Iran from the World Cup participants."

In a lecture held at a publishing company on the 11th, former President Blatter also responded "No" to reporters' questions asking, "If you were still FIFA president, would you allow Iran, which is killing young women on the streets and sending weapons to Russia to attack Ukraine, to participate in the World Cup?"

Blatter's remarks came just weeks after a law firm representing former and current Iranian sports officials sent a letter to FIFA. The law firm urged FIFA to suspend Iran's participation in the Qatar World Cup this year, stating in the letter that "the actions of the Iran Football Federation violate FIFA regulations."

In Iran, nationwide protests spread after it was revealed that Mahsa Amini (22), an Iranian woman, suddenly died after being taken by police for allegedly violating strict hijab regulations in September.

According to the United Nations, more than 403 people have died during the eight weeks of government crackdown on protests, and thousands of peaceful protesters, including women, children, lawyers, and journalists, have been arrested. On this day, an Iranian court handed down the first death sentence to a hijab protester on charges including arson of a government building, disturbing public order, and conspiring to threaten national security.

In the Qatar World Cup opening on the 20th, Iran is in Group B along with England, Wales, and the United States, and is scheduled to play its first group stage match against England on the 21st.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.