U.S. Soccer faces backlash after scrubbing Iran flag emblem (0:59)Jeff Carlisle explains how U.S. Soccer’s social media posts without the emblem on the Iranian flag have caused a stir at the World Cup. (0:59)
The U.S. Soccer Federation briefly displayed Iran’s national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic, saying the move supports protesters in Iran ahead of the two nations’ World Cup match on Tuesday.
Iran’s government reacted by accusing America of removing the name of God from their national flag.
The decision by the U.S. Soccer Federation adds yet another political firestorm to the Middle East’s first World Cup, one that organizers had hoped would be spared of off-field controversies.
It also comes as the U.S. faces Iran in a decisive World Cup match, which was already freighted by the decades of enmity between the two countries and the nationwide protests now challenging Tehran’s theocratic government.
A U.S. Soccer spokesperson confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle on Sunday that the removal of the emblem was a show of support to the antigovernment protests happening in Iran, specifically targeted at more equality for women.
The Twitter account of the U.S. men’s team displayed a banner with the squad’s matches in the group stage, with the Iranian flag only bearing its green, white and red colors. The same could be seen in a post on its Facebook and Instagram accounts laying out the point totals so far in its group.
By Sunday afternoon, the normal flag with the emblem had been restored in the Twitter banner as attention to it grew.
“We wanted to show our support for the women in Iran with our graphic for 24 hours,” the federation said.
The U.S. Soccer Federation displayed the official Iranian flag in a graphic showing Group B standings on its website.
The brief absence of the emblem comes as months-long demonstrations have challenged Iran’s government since the Sept. 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the country’s morality police.
The protests have seen at least 450 people killed since they started, as well as over 18,000 arrested, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran, an advocacy group following the demonstrations.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations and its soccer federation did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. As comments raged online, Iranian state television described the U.S. federation as “removing the symbol of Allah” from the Iranian flag.
Iran’s semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted Safiollah Fagahanpour, an adviser to the Iranian Football Federation, saying that the “measures taken regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran flag are against the law” of FIFA competitions.
“They must be held responsible,” Fagahanpour said. “Obviously they want to affect Iran’s performance against the U.S. by doing this.”
The Islamic Republic emblem, designed in 1980, is four curves with a sword between them. It represents the Islamic saying: “There is no god but God.” It also resembles a tulip or lotus.
At the top and the bottom of the flag, there are 22 inscriptions of “God is Great” as well, which honors the date on the Persian calendar when the Islamic Revolution took hold.
The flag has become a point of contention at the World Cup. Apparent pro-government supporters have waved it, shouting at those demonstrating over Amini’s death. Others at matches have waved Iran’s lion and sun flag, an emblem of its former ruler, the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
More security forces could be seen at Iran’s last match against Wales. In the capital city of Tehran, anti-riot police — the same ones cracking down on protests — waved the Iranian flag after the win over Wales, angering demonstrators.