Iran’s World Cup coach claims politics ‘affected’ but ignores ‘hype’

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Sunday political concerns and visa problems have hindered his side’s preparations for the World Cup but assured his players will not “pay attention to any of the hype”.

Iran have arrived at the tournament under the cloud of a nasty diplomatic spat, when the United States — at military odds with Iran for months — refused to give visas for several team support staff.

Their first match is against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, the first time a World Cup host has hosted a country with which it is at war.

A small group of anti-regime protestors welcomed the Iran team bus, escorted by a police motorbike, at the training late Sunday.

Iranian diaspora members opposed to the conservative Iranian regime are planning far larger rallies outside the stadium and there have been concerns that the Iran squad could walk off the pitch if anti-government banners are shown.”We are here to play a terrific match, a contest of quality. “We don’t pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us,” Ghalenoei said in answer to a query from AFP at a press briefing.Of course, every team has its own challenges and in many countries numerous things are happening which have nothing to do with football.”

The coach claimed his players was merely in the World Cup to “represent the respectful people of Iran, be it the Iranians inside Iran or the Iranian diaspora”.“We are not political people… football is different from politics,” Ghalenoei stated.

The news conference came just an hour after the announcement of a peace accord between the US and Iran which brings to a “immediate and permanent” halt to military operations on all fronts.

The Iran team has sparked controversy, but it is far from the only political issue affecting the World Cup that the US is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

Many supporters including Somali referee Omar Artan were denied entry into the US for the World Cup.It’s not only Iran that has been affected, as you know,” stated star striker Mehdi Taremi.

“The tension surrounding the tournament… undermines that joy and undermines the message of FIFA or people, which is about football that brings about peace,” he said.“I have felt the tension since the first moment we came to this World Cup and whenever there is tension at any tournament, of course we do not have the same beautiful experience that we always talk about, about peace, joy for the people of every country.

Iran had intended to establish a training camp in the US, but decided at the last minute to switch to Tijuana in Mexico.

Ghalenoei said his team “didn’t have enough time to adjust… it will affect us, but God willing, I know that my players are very determined to do their utmost and show the highest quality”.“We were changed twice in our camp, first we were in the United States and then they transferred us to Mexico and of course that impacts us,” the coach stated.But Iranians are experts at turning adversity into opportunity.

Iran never has advanced past the first round of a World Cup. Belgium and Egypt are both in the same Group G.

Around 25 demonstrators outside the training session in Carson, near Los Angeles, chanted that the squad did not represent their people.“They are the terrorist regime in Iran,” said Satggin Jalali, 47, of Los Angeles.Some of us will be inside the stadium (tomorrow) We have several surprises for you.”“These guys are not for the Iranian people,” nodded Sourat Darabi, a 51-year-old doctor from Orange County.’We are here as the voice of the people of Iran because they don’t have a voice — (the government) cut the internet, and if they come out and protest, they kill them, they massacre.’