U.S. Soccer briefly scrubs emblem from Iran flag at World Cup
The U.S.
DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. Soccer Federation briefly displayed Iran’s national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, saying the move supported protesters in Iran ahead of the two nations’ World Cup match Tuesday.
Iran’s government reacted by accusing America of removing the name of God from its national flag.
The USSF decision added yet-another political firestorm to the Middle East’s first World Cup, one organizers had hoped would be spared off-the-field controversies.
It occurred as the U.S. prepared to face Iran in a decisive World Cup match already freighted with the decades of enmity between the countries and the nationwide protests challenging Tehran’s theocratic government.
Political tensions swirl on and off the field ahead of U.S.-Iran gameNov. 29, 202202:21The USSF said in a statement Sunday morning it decided to forgo the official flag on social media accounts to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-soccer-briefly-scrubs-emblem-iran-flag-world-cup-rcna58869
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