Iran reports airport delay for Taremi before World Cup trip to Seattle
Iran’s football federation said US host officials held up Mehdi Taremi and assistant coach Saeed Alhoei as the team left Mexico for Seattle.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Iran’s football federation said US host officials delayed forward Mehdi Taremi and assistant coach Saeed Alhoei as the national team tried to travel from Mexico to Seattle for its final World Cup group match. The federation said the incident held up the team’s departure before its game against Egypt.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran said in a Wednesday statement that officials “caused problems” for the two members of the delegation during the team’s third trip into the United States at the tournament. The federation did not say what prompted the delay or whether either man was questioned.
According to the federation, Taremi and Alhoei rejoined the group after 25 minutes, and the delegation then continued its trip to Seattle. Iran is due to play Egypt in Washington state after playing its first two group-stage matches in Los Angeles, California.
Team based in Mexico
Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s players and staff have been staying in Tijuana, Mexico, during the World Cup while traveling into the United States for matches on the West Coast. The team’s previous two US trips involved arriving one day before games in Los Angeles and leaving soon after the final whistle, according to the report.
The Seattle fixture is Iran’s third group-stage match in the United States. Al Jazeera reported that the team arrived at the tournament amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, a backdrop that has made travel arrangements for the Iranian delegation a point of dispute.
The reported delay came one day after US authorities said they had eased travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup delegation, according to Al Jazeera. Under that arrangement, the team could travel to Seattle two days before the match but still had to leave immediately afterward, the report said.
Travel restrictions disputed
Iranian players and sports officials have criticized how the US hosts have treated Team Melli, according to Al Jazeera. Their complaints center on restrictions that left the squad based in Mexico despite all three of its group games being scheduled on the US West Coast.
US officials have suggested the travel limits are tied to security concerns, Al Jazeera reported. The officials did not provide details explaining how the presence of the Iranian team in the country could pose a threat, according to the report.
Taremi is one of Iran’s leading players, and Alhoei is part of the coaching staff. The federation’s statement gave no indication that either missed the team flight to Seattle after the short delay.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.