Iranian soccer officials claim bad treatment by Toronto airport security, skip FIFA Congress

VANCOUVER/TORONTO, Canada — The FIFA Congress in World Cup co-host Canada was overshadowed by a diplomatic row involving Iran, after the country’s soccer federation officials say they turned back at Toronto airport, citing their treatment by immigration officials.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reports that the delegation members, including federation president Mehdi Taj, secretary general Hedayat Mombeini, and his deputy Hamed Momeni, turned back upon arrival despite holding valid visas, citing what it described as “inappropriate behaviour of immigration officials.”

The officials — who had traveled to Canada to attend Thursday’s Congress in Vancouver — returned on the next available flight, according to the Tasnim report, which added that the incident involved an insult directed at one of the most decorated branches of Iran’s armed forces.

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 organization’s headquarters, the report adds.

FIFA did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. A source at the FIFA Congress tells Reuters FIFA had sent a representative to mediate in Toronto, but their efforts were in vain.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter tell Reuters that the Iranian officials were also unable to attend Tuesday’s Asian Football Confederation Congress, which was also held in Vancouver, due to visa issues.