Iran’s FFIRI suspends relations with Greek Football Federation

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has announced suspension of its relations with the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF), also known as the Greek Football Federation, following cancellation of a friendly match between Iran and Greece as part of preparations for the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in Russia.

The FFIRI, in a statement released on Thursday evening, said HFF’s unilateral annulment of the warm-up game, slated for Saturday June 2, inflicted serious damages on the training program of the Iran men’s national football team, domestically known as Team Melli, prior to the start of its campaign at the World Cup.

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran then expressed its deep regret over its Greek counterpart’s lack of respect, morality and responsibility in recent weeks.

“We will provide a report to FIFA, and will use all the legal possibilities to obtain compensation for all sporting and financial losses we have incurred. 

“We will suspend all links with the Greek Football Federation until FIFA considers our report,” the statement pointed out.

The World Cup warm-up match between the Iran and Greece men’s national football teams had been scheduled since February to take place in Istanbul.

The HFF Evangelos Grammenos had reportedly told sports officials in Iran that Greece would not be traveling to Turkey, and instead invited them to play the match at the multi-purpose Nea Smyrni Stadium in Athens.

The FFIRI officials strongly rejected the offer as a trip to Greece did not fit with their World Cup warm-up preparations, and secondly Iran, as a Muslim country, could not play in a match in which main sponsors of the opposite side are from the betting and alcohol industries.

The Iranian football federation sought to face Kosovo in Istanbul on Saturday after the scheduled friendly against Greece was canceled, but to no avail.

“New last minute demands presented by the Football Federation of Kosovo came to make the accomplishment of the game totally impossible,” the FFIRI said in another statement.

Team Melli will play Lithuania in Moscow on June 8 in its last World Cup warm-up match.

During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow on December 1 last year, Team Melli joined the Portugal national football team, nicknamed A Selecção, Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of Morocco in the preliminary round of the tournament.

The host nation, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay form Group A in the upcoming quadrennial international sports event.

France is drawn in Group C, and is pitted against Australia, Peru and Denmark.

Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria are drawn in Group D.

Group E consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.

While the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea shape Group F, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England are in Group G.

Group H has Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15. Russia will open the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities.

Iran will start its World Cup campaign against Morocco at Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 15.

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