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Iran unsatisfied and files CAS complaint against AFC for awarding Bahrain as a host for World Cup
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) decision to choose Bahrain as its centralized host for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Cup Qualifiers. Iran alleged that Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President who also a Bahraini, used his president’s right in selecting his home country for the qualifiers despite Iran, which still has 3 more home games left.
World Cup 2022 was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also caused the postponement of Iran’s 3 home matches. Last Month, the AFC announced that the remaining matches in the second round qualifying for Group C would be played in Bahrain (who acted as a host). There are Iran, Iraq, Cambodia, and Hong Kong in Group C, and they would be played in late May and early June. It means Iran’s team will also have to play their home match in Bahrain, the host country.
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This circumstance instigates an unfairness from the standpoint of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran as AFC decided to award Bahrain as the host country for 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Cup Qualifiers despite the AFC explanation that the host selection process was following the due consideration by considering the promptness and security measure. Moreover, at present, Iran is third in their group with six points from 4 matches and catching up with Iraq and Bahrain, first and second in the group who played more matches. Still, Iran appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to review the case.
In this regard, Iran also raised questions about playing the match in Bahrain during months that have the extreme heat and alleged that Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, was biased against their country as Iran called out Bahrain as a criminal partner with Israel, causing the tension between the countries in the past.
Source:
- https://www.thairath.co.th/sport/thaifootball/changsuek/2067533
- shorturl.asia/Adij4
