Iran national football team don show respect for small pikin wey die for US-Israel air strike by holding school bag during match against Nigeria for Turkey. The players carry pink and purple school bag and wear black armband for their friendly match wey Nigeria win 2-1 for Antalya, southern Turkey. The gesture na to remember the 165 pikin wey die for February 28 attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school for Minab, southern Iran.
Iranian officials don blame United States and Israel for the attack wey kill more than 165 people, mostly children. US military dey investigate the matter but don say dem no go ever target civilians. United Nations human rights chief don urge US to conclude their investigation and publish their findings. Neither United States nor Israel don accept responsibility for the attack.
For the match against Nigeria, Iranian players including former FC Porto and Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi hold the school bag close to their chest during national anthem. Media officer for Iran team tell Reuters say “The players are holding the school bags close to their heart in remembrance of the 165 girls the Americans killed in an Iranian school.” The match na World Cup tuneup for Iran ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 wey go hold for United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11.
Meanwhile, Iran Sports Ministry don ban all national and club teams from traveling to kontri wey dem consider “hostile.” The announcement wey state TV report for Tehran on Thursday come amid Iran ongoing military conflict with United States and Israel wey start February 28. The statement say “The presence of national and club teams in countries that are considered hostile and are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes and team members is prohibited until further notice.”
This ban fit affect Iran participation for FIFA World Cup 2026 because all their group-stage matches schedule for United States, wey Iran now classify as hostile kontri. Iran ambassador for Mexico City confirm say dem dey discuss with FIFA to shift Iran matches from United States to Mexico. But FIFA President Gianni Infantino don say the governing body want the tournament “to go ahead as scheduled.”
Head of Iran football federation, Mehdi Taj, say Iran no go travel to United States for World Cup after US President Donald Trump say e no fit ensure security for Iranian national team. Taj say “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America.” Iran dey negotiate with FIFA to hold their matches for Mexico but FIFA appear don rule out that possibility.
The travel ban don already affect Iranian clubs for continental competitions. Iran Pro League side Tractor FC AFC Champions League Elite play-off against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai wey schedule for Saudi Arabia go need relocation. Iran ministry say federation and clubs “will be responsible for notifying the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games.”
For other development, Iran judiciary threaten to seize property of soccer player Sardar Azmoun according to two semiofficial news agencies. The announcement follow threats from Iran hard-liner judicial chief say authorities plan to seize assets of celebrities wey dem view as critical of government.
Iran women national team players recently decline to sing national anthem during AFC Women Asian Cup match, leading to host on Iranian state TV call dem “traitors.” Some of the players initially seek humanitarian visas to stay for Australia after concerns say dem go face repercussions for their protest but all members of the team eventually return to Iran after dropping their bids for asylum.
Iran qualify for this summer World Cup and schedule to open their campaign against New Zealand and Belgium for Los Angeles before their final group game against Egypt for Seattle. But with the new travel ban and security concerns, their participation remain in doubt as the tournament dey approach.
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