FIFA has formally apologised following an incident involving the Iranian delegation in Canada. FIFA’s Secretary General sent a letter to Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation (IFF), expressing regret over the delegation being denied entry into Canada.
In the letter, FIFA emphasised its commitment to equal representation for all member associations, stating that such incidents contradict the core principles of international football.
The Secretary General also assured that the organisation will take proactive steps to prevent similar issues in the future, ensuring no member nation faces such challenges again.
FIFA has also formally invited the Iranian Football Federation to participate in the FIFA Congress to be held in Zurich on May 20, and requested that Iran complete its nomination for representation as soon as possible.
Furthermore, FIFA has offered full cooperation to the Iranian delegation in obtaining visas and other travel arrangements to ensure their participation in the upcoming meeting without any hindrance. This move is being seen as a positive development in the global football community.
The Secretary General conveyed FIFA’s deep regret regarding the incident: “On behalf of FIFA, I was very disappointed to learn that you were unable to enter Canada to participate in the FIFA Congress and had to return alongside the rest of the Iranian delegation.
As soon as we became aware of the situation, FIFA engaged with local authorities at the highest level in an effort to resolve the matter promptly. Unfortunately, these efforts were unsuccessful. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience and frustration caused to you and your delegation,” it mentioned in the letter.
The conflict arose when Iran’s delegation travelled to Canada to attend the FIFA Congress but was ultimately denied entry and had to return to Tehran. After arriving back in Iran, Mehdi Taj explained that the group chose to leave following what he described as provocative political comments made by Canadian airport security personnel.
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