Will Iran be disqualified from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar? Who would replace them, and why could they be kicked out? Italy ruling clear
Iran will compete alongside England, Wales, and the United States in Group B, beginning on November 21 against England.
Despite this, there have been calls for the nation to be barred from Qatar 2022 owing to its involvement in the Ukraine crisis, with the Ukrainian FA requesting to FIFA for Iran to be expelled from the World Cup in Qatar.
In light of the ongoing tensions in the country, which were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in Iranian security custody, human rights organisations have also called for a ban.
We examine the reasons why Iran may be expelled from the World Cup in Qatar. Here is everything you should know.
Ukraine present request to FIFA to ban Iran from World Cup 2022
The executive committee of the Ukrainian Football Association issued a statement requesting that Iran be banned from Qatar 2022.
It states: “Taking into account the media information about the systematic manifestations of human rights violations in Iran which could violate the principles and norms of the FIFA charter.
“Taking into account the UN security council resolution 22.31 regarding the imposition of sanctions on Iran, and the alleged involvement of Iran in the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, we appeal to FIFA with a proposal to consider of excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin tweeted: “While the Iranian leadership will have fun watching their national team play at the World Cup, Ukrainians will be killed by Iranian drones and Iranian missiles”
Are Iran fighting in Ukraine?
Several foreign leaders have expressed worry and criticism for Iran’s role in the conflict in Ukraine, where it has supplied Shahed drones.
This week at the United Nations, Ukraine accused Iran of breaking a Security Council ban on the transfer of 180-mile-range drones.
The United Kingdom, France, and the United States strongly support Ukraine’s claim that the drones were transferred to Russia in violation of a 2015 UN Security Council resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal between Iran and six nations – the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France – to limit Tehran’s nuclear activities and prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.
The White House has also stated that Iranian troops are “directly engaged on the ground” in Crimea in support of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s power stations and other key infrastructure.
The British Government has also stated that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have been dispatched to assist Russian forces with the use of drones.
The US administration asserted it has alarming evidence of Tehran’s expanding participation in supporting Russia as it inflicts agony on Ukrainian civilians as winter approaches.
In recent days, the Russians have increasingly relied on Iranian-supplied drones and Kalibr and Iskander cruise missiles to launch assaults against Ukrainian infrastructure and non-military targets.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the US National Security Council, informed reporters that Iran had dispatched a “very small number” of individuals to Crimea, a region of Ukraine illegally invaded by Russia in 2014, to help Russian troops in launching Iranian-made drones against Ukraine.
The United States is considering imitating the United Kingdom and sanctioning Iran to make it more difficult for Tehran to sell arms to Russia.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated, in announcing further sanctions over the use of Iranian drones in Ukraine, “Iran’s support for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine is further proof of its destabilising role in global security.
“We are sanctioning the suppliers of drones used for the cowardly strikes on civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine.”
Qatar 2022: Could Iran be excluded from the World Cup?
An MP has said that FIFA should stop Iran from participating in the World Cup for its supply of weaponry for the Russian invasion of Ukraine – with others stating that the abuse of people at the hands of their government amid the unrest means they should also be banned. Iran’s response to the unrest has been widely condemned after tear gas and live rounds were used on protestors. Over 200 people, including at least 23 children, are believed to have been killed as a result.
Labour MP Chris Bryant, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia said that Iran’s involvement in the World Cup should be looked at by FIFA due to the support they are providing Ukraine.
“Sporting authorities around the world and in every sport should be looking very carefully at Iran’s direct engagement and support for Putin in his illegal invasion of Ukraine. Dictatorial regimes relish sporting success. We should deny them that opportunity.”
A number of Iranian football and sports personalities have formally requested that the Iranian Football Association be suspended.
An open letter read: “Iran’s brutality and belligerence towards its own people has reached a tipping point, demanding an unequivocal and firm disassociation from the footballing and sports world,” the group said.
“Women have been consistently denied access to stadia across the country and systematically excluded from the football ecosystem in Iran, which sharply contrasts with Fifa’s values and statutes.
“If women are not allowed into stadia across the country, and the Iranian Football Federation is simply following and enforcing governmental guidelines, they cannot be seen as an independent organisation and free from any form or kind of influence. This is a violation of (Article 19) of Fifa’s statutes.”
Even though there is no official ban on women accessing sporting stadiums where men are participating in Iran, women are regularly denied entry.
Who would replace Iran at Qatar 2022?
Uncertain as to who would replace the country in the event of a ban. After being eliminated in the tournament’s play-offs by Australia, the UAE would be the most probable nation to return. Additionally, they placed third in Iran’s group.
It was rumored that Italy would gain from a probable Iran expulsion, with the nation with the highest coefficient in the world rankings taking their place; however, FIFA president Gianni Infantino denied the rumor.
Will FIFA kick Iran out the World Cup?
According to FIFA regulations, a nation’s football authorities cannot be governed by the government, nor could any minority be prevented from attending matches according to their values and laws.
Following the unlawful invasion of Ukraine, an open letter has been addressed to FIFA, and comparable sanctions have been applied against Russia for qualifying.
In a joint statement, UEFA and FIFA withdrew Russia from all matches until “football can again be a vector for unity and peace” This will further isolate Russia’s sporting condition in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.
“Following the initial decisions adopted by the FIFA Council and the UEFA Executive Committee, which envisaged the adoption of additional measures, FIFA and UEFA have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both FIFA and UEFA competitions until further notice,” read the statement.
“These decisions were adopted today by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and the Executive Committee of UEFA, respectively the highest decision-making bodies of both institutions on such urgent matters.
“Football is fully united and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine. Both presidents hope that the situation will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people.”
Now it is up to FIFA to determine whether their team represents the government’s views.
Will Iran be disqualified from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar? Who would replace them, and why could they be kicked out? Italy ruling clear
