Iran’s football federation has fired back at a senior Trump administration official who celebrated the team’s early World Cup exit, accusing him of peddling “lies” and displaying “pettiness.”
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said this week that he performed a “happy dance” and “sung a song or two” when Iran failed to reach the last 32 of the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Iran’s Football Federation hit back on Tuesday, saying its players and staff are long used to hostile treatment from US officials and that nobody back home was surprised. The response caps weeks of friction between Iran and the host nation.
What Iran said about Markwayne Mullin’s World Cup celebration
Mullin, speaking at a briefing in Washington, made little effort to hide his satisfaction at seeing Iran head home. His comments, and Iran’s reply, were reported by The Guardian.
Mullin said: “I’m just glad they’re done, and they’re not coming back.
“I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might’ve sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance. I’m very happy they’re going back because there wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them.”
The Iranian camp had been at odds with the hosts from the start — denied visas for staff, a training base pushed across the border into Mexico, and complaints of unfair treatment at every turn.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei called his side “the most oppressed team” at the tournament.
The federation’s response was pointed.
In a statement, they said: “Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks.
“These remarks once again demonstrate that US officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organising a global sporting event.
“The fact that he openly celebrates Iran’s elimination says far more about him than it does about our team. It reflects a level of pettiness that cannot even tolerate the presence of a football team competing on the world’s biggest stage.
“After our match against New Zealand, our head coach said that the United States did not want Iran to remain in this tournament because of the inhumane and unprofessional treatment our team experienced. These latest comments only reinforce that belief.”
FIFA has faced growing scrutiny over the political backdrop to this World Cup.
Football’s governing body is meant to stay neutral, yet it did little to head off the visa refusals, travel restrictions and searches that have been front and centre during the summer’s action.
President Donald Trump has largely stayed away from the tournament in recent weeks. His administration, though, continues to make its presence felt in a way that doesn’t feel conducive with the duties of a host nation.
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