One of President Donald Trump’s top government officials has revealed he ‘danced a happy dance’ when Iran were sent packing from the World Cup, leaving the country’s soccer federation furious.
Iran’s participation at the tournament was uncertain in the months leading up to it after the US and Israel launched air strikes on the Middle East nation back in February.
Yet they did take part and even came close to qualifying for the last 32 after drawing all three of their group games, only to be denied a last-gasp victory that would have taken them through by a marginal offside call in their final game against Egypt.
The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) made multiple complaints over their treatment at the hands of the US authorities during their time in the competition, with head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying his team were the ‘most oppressed’ at the World Cup.
And US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has sparked more Iran fury by admitting during a World Cup security briefing: ‘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.
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he ‘danced a happy dance’ when Iran were knocked out of the World Cup
Iran failed to make it past the group stage after claiming they felt ‘oppressed’ at the tournament
‘I’m very happy they’re going back because there wasn’t a single team that we dealt with more than them.’
Iran moved their training base to the Mexican border city of Tijuana in May, having originally been due to be based in Tucson, Arizona. All three of their matches were played in the US – with the first two in Los Angeles and the last one in Seattle.
One of their complaints during the World Cup was the stipulation from the authorities that they leave immediately after each match.
Asked about that, Mullin said: ‘That was just an agreement we had – to just go ahead and let them go.
‘The game was over, let them get back to the hotel, their base camp where they’re at. They’re more comfortable there. That was just an agreement we worked out with FIFA before the games started.’
Mullin claimed that ‘almost half’ of Iran’s non-playing delegation had direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The FFIRI has reacted angrily to Mullin’s gleeful reaction to their World Cup exit, doubling down on their belief that the US did not want them to compete at this summer’s tournament.
Mullin, one of President Donald Trump’s key allies, did not hide his delight at Iran’s elimination
‘Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks,’ an official for the federation said, via The Telegraph.
‘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 [Amir Ghalenoei] 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.’
Eleven members of Iran’s staff, including president Mehdi Taj, were denied visas by the US authorities this summer.
Mullin alleged before their 0-0 draw against Belgium that someone claiming to be Taj with ‘direct ties’ to the IRGC had tried to board a plane to LA on Saturday with the rest of the team, only to be stopped by security.
The Iranian Football Federation allege that the US and FIFA did not want them at the World Cup
The Iranian captain, Mehdi Taremi, claimed after the final group game against Egypt that the US and FIFA did not want them at the World Cup.
‘We have to fight against everything here,’ he said. ‘I don’t know if people want it or not, but as we see it by our perspective, yeah, they are like that I think.’
After their disallowed goal against Egypt, Iran thought they were heading to the World Cup knockout stages again when Algeria moved 3-2 ahead against Austria in stoppage time on Saturday.
However, Austria’s dramatic 96th-minute equalizer sealed their fate and eliminated them from the competition.
