Iran prohibits its sports teams from competing in countries deemed hostile, citing security concerns for athletes and impacting upcoming international fixtures.
TEHRAN: Iran has prohibited its national and club sports teams from attending events in countries it considers hostile.
The Ministry of Sports and Youth announced the ban, stating these nations are unable to ensure the security of Iranian athletes.
The directive, reported by the ISNA news agency, is effective until further notice.
It specifically cited an upcoming AFC Champions League match between Iran’s Tractor team and an Emirati club in Saudi Arabia.
“The Football Federation and clubs will be obliged to notify the Asian Football Confederation of this matter in order to relocate the games,” the ministry’s statement said.
The move comes nearly a month after US-Israeli attacks on Iran sparked a wider Middle East conflict.
It also occurs months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Iran has qualified for the tournament, with its group stage matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt scheduled to be played in the United States.
In a separate incident this month, six players and a staff member of the Iranian women’s football team sought asylum in Australia.
They had refused to sing the national anthem during the Asian Cup, prompting Tehran to brand them “traitors”.
Five of the individuals later reversed their decision and returned to Iran, while two remain in Australia.
