US Football Federation deletes the Islamic symbol of the Iranian flag on social media shortly before United States-Iran- Corriere.it

World Cup in Qatar. For group B, the third round is scheduled for Tuesday 29 November with the challenge between United States and Iran, an intersection that affects not only a sporting rivalry, but also reserves political issues that, at least theoretically, should remain off the pitch. In a tournament that has already raised many questions, between respect for human rights and the meeting, not always harmonious, of different cultures, the US soccer federation has made another divisive choice. Remove the Islamic symbols from the Iranian flag posted on the official social media accounts “to show solidarity and support for women who are fighting for fundamental human rights in their country, putting their own lives at risk”. The US Football Federation thus motivates its decision on the eve of the direct clash between the two national teams. The match, with Iran on three points and the USA on two, will also be decisive for qualifying for the round of 16, but in fact the public’s attention is now directed elsewhere, with the controversy once again behind the angle.

The gesture

Precisely in presenting the standings, the official account of US football deleted the Islamic symbol on Twitter that characterizes the Iranian flag, which instead appears with the simple three horizontal lines colored green, white and red.

All eyes on Tuesday. ?? pic.twitter.com/8bCHlUdmRv

— US Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) November 25, 2022

It is no coincidence that the emblem created in 1980 was removed, just after the revolution led by Khomeini in 1979. The symbol represents the dogma “There is no God but Allah” with twenty-two decorative inscriptions that lead back to the idea of ​​greatness of God and the sacredness of the date of the Islamic revolution. Beyond Twitter, the same decision by the Football Association has also been extended to Instagram and Facebook profiles. A choice that was not immediately justified, but at the first request for explanations, the leaders of American football clearly explained their intentions, moreover embracing the silence of the Iranian players who had taken the field against Wales, without singing the national anthem before of the match. At the moment the Islamic Republic he did not comment, but on social media many supporters of the Tehran government have already expressed their disappointment, in the hope that the US team can be sanctioned or otherwise face some measures.

Protests

These days the regime is largely distracted by what is happening in the country, real riots since the 22-year-old protester Mahsa Amini was imprisoned, who died on 16 September following the detention measures by the Iranian police. According to human rights activists, the violent repression of protests in the country has so far resulted in 450 deaths and 18,000 arrests. In the same way, about sixty journalists and photojournalists were reportedly imprisoned. As the street riots worsened, the US thus underlined its position towards Iran, during a World Cup that continues to be talked about more for external circumstances than for the football played. Circumstances which, evidently, even with the strict prohibitions imposed by both fifa which from the Qatari organizing committee, on several occasions have seen the firm stance of the Western federations, precisely because they are linked to the issue of human rights.