IRANIAN OFFICIALS TO MISS FIFA CONGRESS OVER ALLEGED MISTREATMENT IN CANADA

Iran’s Mehdi Taj-led delegation turns back at Toronto airport due to ‘unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials’.

President of the Iranian Football Federation Mehdi Taj was leading the Iranian football delegation that travelled to Canada for the FIFA Congress [File: Atta Kenare/AFP]

An Iranian football federation delegation says it turned back at Toronto’s main airport this week, citing their treatment by Canadian immigration, and is set to miss a pre-World Cup FIFA gathering in Vancouver.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on Wednesday that the delegation members, including federation President Mehdi Taj, Secretary-General Hedayat Mombeni and his deputy, Hamed Momeni, turned back ⁠⁠upon arrival at Toronto’s Pearson airport despite holding valid visas, citing what was described as the “unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials”.

The Iranian delegation was en route to Vancouver for Thursday’s FIFA Congress, which is meant to bring together representatives of all 211 member associations before the World Cup being cohosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.

“While Mehdi Taj, president, Hedayat Mombeni, secretary-general, and Hamed Momeni, deputy secretary-general of the federation, had travelled to Toronto ⁠⁠with official visas to attend the FIFA Congress, they returned to Turkey on the first available flight due to the unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian nation’s armed forces,” the Iran football federation said in a statement.

In 2024, Canada listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, and statements from the Canadian government indicated that Taj was denied entry due to his alleged ties with the IRGC.

“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,” the Canadian government said in a statement.

"We have taken strong action to hold the IRGC to account and will continue to ‌‌do so, while protecting the safety of Canadians and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.”

However, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into the country but added that the denial was “unintentional”.

“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said he could not speak about specific cases due to privacy legislation, but IRGC members were not welcome in Canada.

The incident that occurred on Tuesday underscores the practical and political obstacles surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup, the most politically sensitive item on FIFA’s agenda since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran in February.

Iran’s qualification has not removed hurdles tied to travel, visas and security in a tournament staged in three countries.

While FIFA has insisted fixtures will proceed as scheduled, the delegation’s withdrawal deepens doubts over whether Iranian players, officials and supporters will be able to move freely across borders during the tournament.

FIFA has since contacted the Iranian delegation to express regret over the incident and indicated that President Gianni Infantino ⁠⁠would arrange a meeting with them at the organisation’s headquarters, the Tasnim report added.

The FIFA Congress ⁠⁠is usually a routine gathering, but carries greater weight this year with the World Cup less than two months away and several ⁠⁠questions, including cost and Iran’s participation, still hanging over the first 48-team edition of the tournament.

The Iranian officials were also unable to attend Tuesday’s Asian Football Confederation congress, which was held in Vancouver.

- Reuters and The Associated Press

GERMAN SOCCER STAR MULLER DEBUTS WITH WHITECAPS IN DRAW WITH DYNAMO

VANCOUVER - Thomas Muller's Major League Soccer debut was almost perfect. 

Almost. 

The German soccer icon came off the bench for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday and put the ball into the back of the net just minutes later. 

Then the offside flag went up.

“I think the moment when I scored the goal was amazing. The noise in the stadium and then also the reaction of my teammates, that was a great start for me," Muller said. "In the end, the result was a little bit disappointing. But that's the game. That's the game.”

The Whitecaps (13-6-7) settled for a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo (7-11-8).

Hours before kickoff, hundreds of fans gathered at Terry Fox Plaza outside B.C. Place to welcome Vancouver's newest star. 

Many in the crowd were clad in crisp new Whitecaps jerseys emblazoned with Muller's No. 13, while others wore the red kit he formerly sported at Bayern Munich. At least two people wore lederhosen, a nod to the World Cup winner's Bavarian roots, and several German flags lined the barriers.

Muller signed with the Whitecaps on Aug. 6 after playing 17 seasons for Bayern in the German Bundesliga. There, he became a household name, scoring 250 goals across all competitions and helping the club to 33 titles, including 13 league championships. 

He also excelled on the international stage, winning the 2014 World Cup with Germany and taking home the Golden Boot from the 2010 tournament after notching five goals and three assists.

The 35-year-old attacking midfielder joined the 'Caps after his contract with Bayern was not renewed. He will remain with the club through the 2025 season on a deal that includes a Designated Player option for the 2026 campaign. 

Expectations for Muller were high on Sunday night, said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen, despite his limited time acclimating to a new team.

“First and foremost, it’s about blending him together with his teammates," the coach said. "I think he did very well. I think he has a high football IQ so he understands where to position himself and which spaces to attack.”

The sold-out crowd of 26,031 rose to their feet before kickoff Sunday when Muller was introduced on the big screen. He replied by standing and clapping for the crowd before taking his seat on the sidelines. 

Fans had another reason to cheer early in the game after Vancouver midfielder Jayden Nelson was taken down inside the penalty area by Griffin Dorsey. 

Referee Jon Freemon pointed at the spot and people rose to their feet as Brian White lined up to take the penalty in the sixth minute. The American striker then rolled a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net as Houston 'keeper Jonathan Bond dove in the opposite direction. 

The goal was White's team-leading 13th of the season. 

Boisterous cheers emanated through the crowd in the 61st minute when Muller came on for homegrown talent Jeevan Badwal.

Three minutes later, the German soccer legend blasted a shot into the back of the Houston net from the top of the penalty area. The play was quickly whistled down for being offside.

“Of course, everybody had hoped for the result of the magic moment that came when Thomas put the ball in the back of the net," Sorensen said. "Unfortunately, it was a very narrow offside. But you know, that's what can happen.”

Houston spoiled Muller's welcome party in the 91st minute when Amine Bassi slipped a pass to Artur at the top of the penalty area and the central midfielder sailed a shot in past the outstretched fingertips of Vancouver 'keeper Yohei Takaoka to level the score at 1-1. 

“You have little bit of a feeling that you lost the game even though you didn’t," Sorensen said. 

Muller said the pace and intensity of his first MLS match were high, but there are areas away from the ball where he sees room for improvement. 

“In the end, we have to take the result, and we have to take our game and improve it in the next couple of weeks," Muller said. "I'm now fresh into this team, I'm new into the league. I need a few weeks to figure out what's right or wrong. But to be honest, I feel very good after this game.”

Sunday's game capped a whirlwind week for Muller. 

Hundreds of fans were on hand to welcome him when he touched down at Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday and on Thursday a crush of media greeted him at an introductory press conference. He got his first taste of Vancouver weather on Friday when rain soaked his first training session with the team. 

“The first days were busy, but in a positive way," Muller said. "I learned a lot about the culture. I met very nice people. I had a very warm welcome in this city, and also to the whole club. I was enjoying it a lot, and I want to continue our way to more. So I’m excited." 

Life in Vancouver is a change from Munich for the soccer star.

Though the sport's popularity continues to boom throughout Canada, Muller is not yet a local celebrity in Vancouver — and he's enjoyed a tiny taste of anonymity in recent days. 

"When I walk through the city, it's nice to meet some people cheering for the Whitecaps, but it's also nice to go to the supermarket and buy my own stuff. I can relax a little bit between the lemons and the blueberries," he said. "But I'm here to lead this team to something special.”

NOTES

Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon left the game at halftime with knee pain. … Midfielder Ali Ahmed came on for Vancouver in the 61st minute. It was his first game action since spraining his ankle while playing for Canada at the CONCACAF Gold Cup nearly two months ago. … Kenji Cabrera came on in the 91st minute, making his home debut for the 'Caps. 

NEXT UP 

Vancouver: The Whitecaps host St. Louis City SC on Saturday. 

Houston: The Dynamo host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday. 

- The Canadian Press

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