Canada denies Iran envoy entry for FIFA congress
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her "understanding" that Iranian soccer officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup . Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was "unintentional." Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry because of "inappropriate behavior of immigration officials" at Toronto's Pearson Airport. The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening because of his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.
"While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country," said Taous Ait, Diab's press secretary. The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. There had been concerns ahead of the meetings Thursday that visa issues could impact the Iranian delegation's ability to travel to Vancouver for the overall FIFA Congress, as well as the World Cup starting on June 11.
Analysis: Why This Matters
This story matters because World Cup can change the trajectory of a season — and a franchise.
Key Takeaways
- Iran is scheduled to begin World Cup play in Group G on June 15 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, before matches against Egypt and Belgium .
- There had been concerns ahead of the meetings Thursday that visa issues could impact the Iranian delegation's ability to travel to Vancouver for the overall FIFA Congress, as well as the World Cup starting on June 11.
- The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Stay tuned for game-day fallout and any official statements still to come.
Source: ESPN Sports