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Iran Arrives in Los Angeles on Saturday for Belgium Match After FIFA Denies Earlier Travel Request
The Iranian team reached Los Angeles on Saturday after FIFA denied an earlier arrival request. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said the delay affected the squad mentally.
The GuardianAudio version
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Iran’s national team arrived in Los Angeles from Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday less than 24 hours before its Group G match against Belgium. The squad had asked FIFA for permission to reach the city two days earlier but was not allowed to do so. Belgium arrived on Friday to prepare for the game.
M. I welcomed that but we sat and waited and waited,” he said. “We waited until 7pm, nothing happened.
’” Ghalenoei said the uncertainty left the team in limbo on Friday evening after receiving encouragement from FIFA that an earlier departure might be approved. The coach stated that the episode would affect the players mentally. “That’s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach,” he said.
Ghalenoei added that he had not heard reactions from other coaches at the tournament. “I haven’t heard anything from other coaches and I’m sure they’re busy with preparing their own teams and we never expect them to show any reaction,” he said. ” He noted that Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had said the teams were “here for football, not politics,” and said he agreed with that view.
“Our grievances are to do with the way [Fifa] have behaved towards us,” Ghalenoei said. Iran has been granted permission to fly to Seattle two days before its final Group G match against Egypt on Friday. Ghalenoei questioned why the same allowance was not made for the team’s earlier matches.
” he said.
