IRANIAN FEDERATION BOSS AGAIN SUGGESTS WORLD CUP BOYCOTT

BERLIN, March 11 (Bernama-dpa) -- The president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) has once again raised the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the men's World Cup this summer.

"What reasonable person would send their national team to the US if the World Cup is going to be as political as it was in Australia?" Mehdi Taj told the Isna news agency, reported German news agency dpa.

Five of the Iranian women's national team were granted asylum by Australia amid fears the team could face persecution if they returned to Iran after they did not sing the national anthem before their first match at the Asian Cup in Gold Coast.

The World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada starts on June 11. Iran are to play Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt in the group stage, with all matches being played in the US amid conflict escalation between the two countries and also Israel.

Iran is among several countries whose citizens cannot enter the US but US President Donald Trump has said that exceptions will be made for athletes, officials and family members at the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

However, the US has already refused visas to Taj and at least six other FFI officials for the World Cup draw in Washington last December. 

Last week, Taj had already indicated that, following the attacks by the US and Israel, Iran was not expected to be "hopeful about the World Cup." 

Trump, meanwhile, said that he "really didn't care" whether Iran participated.

--BERNAMA-dpa