The U.S. Soccer Federation briefly displayed Iran’s national flag on social media without the symbol of the Islamic Republic, saying the move supported protesters in Iran ahead of the 2 nations’ World Cup match Tuesday.
Iran’s government reacted by accusing America of removing the name of God from its national flag.
The us decision added yet-another political firestorm to the Middle East’s first World Cup, one organizers had hoped could be spared of off-the-field controversies.
It occurred because the U.S. prepared to face Iran in a decisive World Cup match already freighted by the many years of enmity between the countries and the nationwide protests difficult Tehran’s theocratic government.
The us said in a press release Sunday morning it decided to forego the official flag on social media accounts to point out “support for the ladies in Iran fighting for basic human rights.”
The Twitter account of the U.S. men’s team displayed a banner with the squad’s matches within the group stage, with the Iranian flag only bearing its green, white and red colours. The identical was seen in a post on its Facebook and Instagram accounts laying out the purpose totals up to now in its group.
By Sunday afternoon, the traditional flag with the symbol had been restored within the Twitter banner and the Facebook and Instagram posts with the altered flag had been removed.
“We wanted to point out our support for the ladies in Iran with our graphic for twenty-four hours,” the federation said.
Federation spokesman Neil Buethe wouldn’t say whether the unique decision had been cleared by USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone, a former national team player. Buethe said Parlow Cone was not available to debate the matter.
“This was a call inside the federation,” he said. “I’m not going to get into who knew and who didn’t.”
Asked whether there had been discussions with diplomatic entities, Buethe said: “There have been at certain times. I’m not going to speak about those, but, again, that is our decision not anyone else’s or pressure from anyone else.”
The us displayed the official Iranian flag in a graphic showing Group B standings on its website.
Defender Walker Zimmerman said the U.S. players were unaware of the posts.
“We didn’t know anything in regards to the posts but we’re supporters of girls’s rights,” he said. “We’re focused lots on Tuesday, on the sporting side, as well. … I feel it’s such a focused group on the duty but at the identical time we empathize and we’re firm believers in women’s rights and support them.”
The temporary absence of the symbol got here as monthslong demonstrations challenged Iran’s government following the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the country’s morality police.
The protests have seen at the least 450 people killed since they began, in addition to over 18,000 arrested, in line with Human Rights Activists in Iran, an advocacy group following the demonstrations.
Iran has not released casualty or arrest figures for months and alleges without providing evidence that the protests have been fomented by its enemies abroad, including the U.S.
Tehran also restricts media access and has detained over 63 reporters and photographers because the demonstrations began, in line with the Committee to Protect Journalists, making covering the unrest that rather more difficult.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations and its soccer federation didn’t reply to a request for comment from The Associated Press. As comments raged online, Iranian state television described the U.S. federation as “removing the symbol of Allah” from the Iranian flag.
Iran’s semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted Safiollah Fagahanpour, an adviser to the Iranian Football Federation, saying that the “measures taken regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran flag are against the law” of FIFA competitions.
“They need to be held responsible,” Fagahanpour said. “Obviously they wish to affect Iran’s performance against the usby doing this.”
The Islamic Republic emblem, designed in 1980, is 4 curves with a sword between them. It represents the Islamic saying: “There isn’t any god but God.” It also resembles a tulip or lotus.
At the highest and the underside of the flag, there are 22 inscriptions of “God is Great” as well, which honors the date on the Persian calendar when the Islamic Revolution took hold.
The flag has grow to be some extent of contention on the World Cup. Apparent pro-government supporters have waved it, shouting at those demonstrating over Amini’s death. Others at matches have waved Iran’s lion and sun flag, an emblem of its former ruler, the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
More security forces might be seen at Iran’s last match against Wales. Within the capital Tehran, anti-riot police — the identical ones cracking down on protests — waved the Iranian flag after the Wales win, angering demonstrators.