Iranian World Cup soccer fans wave pre-revolutionary flag inside stadium despite FIFA ban
Dozens of Iran supporters at the World Cup defied FIFA’s ban by displaying the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag inside SoFi Stadium — giving the soccer org’s ruling a big middle finger.
Ahead of Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand on Monday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied outside the stadium to protest the Iranian regime. Inside SoFi Stadium, the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag was visible throughout the crowd, with fans displaying it on flags and T-shirts alike.
FIFA had said back in May the pre-Iranian revolution flags were banned. REUTERS
Iranian fans wore the emblem on shirts and brought flags into SoFi Stadium. Getty Images
FIFA said the pre-revolutionary flag violated the org’s code of conduct, which states “banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature” will not be allowed at event venues in a decision back in May.
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Security at SoFi Stadium was tight, with fans passing through metal detectors and bag checks. The Post observed security asking one group of fans to remove T-shirts featuring the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag. After the fans said they had no other clothing, security instructed them to turn the shirts inside out. But once inside the stadium, little appeared to be enforced, with the flags and T-shirts visible throughout the stands.
The Post observed security ask one group of fans to turn their shirts inside out with the emblem. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Dozens of Iranian fans sported the old flag, despite the FIFA ban. Getty Images
Some Iranian fans also turned their backs to the field when the national anthem was played.
Large crowds waving Iranian flags and wearing red, white and green as they voiced opposition to the Islamic Republic all gathered outside the stadium before kickoff. Some chanted “USA” while others displayed photos of athletes who had been killed by the regime.
Protesters with Iran flags and signs. REUTERS
Protesters outside of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood ahead of Iran’s first World Cup match. REUTERS
Team Iran’s bus leaves the hotel en route to SoFi Stadium. CA Post
Los Angeles is home to the nation’s largest Iranian community, with an estimated 600,000 Persian Americans concentrated around Westwood Boulevard, often dubbed “Tehrangeles.”
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Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran first gathered around SoFi Stadium at about 11 a.m. Monday.
Organizers said the demonstration aimed to underscore what they described as the contrast between the Iranian regime’s international image and its treatment of dissidents at home.
The rally also worked to spotlight allegations that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exerts significant control over Iran’s sports federations and suppresses athletes who express dissent or engage in protest.
A protester greets the Iran team bus. CA Post
A women with her face painted with the Iranian flag. AFP via Getty Images
One of the protest organizers, Aida Monfared, 42, traveled in from San Francisco.
“This team does not represent the people of Iran. They represent the government of Iran, the government that killed 40,000 people in two day,” she told The Post.
Aida Monfared (left) was one of the organizers of the protest outside SoFi. Jared Downing
The Iranian team took the field at SoFi Monday. Getty Images
“FIFA just banned our real flag, so we are here to show our real flag.”
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The Iranian team landed in the U.S. on Sunday – just one day before the match – due to visa complications that several senior officials from the Iranian football federation faced over alleged links to the Iranian regime.
Iran vs. New Zealand was one of the highly-anticipated matches of group play. Getty Images
The team stayed at Westdrift Manhattan Beach, a four-star hotel roughly six miles from SoFi Stadium.
The hotel was heavily fortified, with layers of security and entrance and exit points heavily sealed off to only hotel guests.
Pre-revolutionary Iran flags have also been banned from stadiums as FIFA rules states that “banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country” are not allowed.