The United States has reaffirmed the Irani football squad must leave the country after each World Cup game.
But the Iranian Football Federation said on Tuesday forward Mehdi Torabi will be able to continue playing at the World Cup after solving a visa issue.
Previously, his visa had been declared invalid after his initial entry to the US for the opener against New Zealand on Monday in Los Angeles, which finished 2-2.
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While the other Iranian players were issued with visas allowing multiple entries into the US, Torabi was reportedly only granted permission for a single entry for the New Zealand game.
But he has now been issued a second visa, which should allow him to enter the US without any problems for Iran’s remaining group stage matches against Belgium in LA and Egypt in Seattle.
Iran’s participation at the World Cup has been hampered by the country’s war with the US and the deal to end the conflict has not eased their difficulties.
The team was not allowed to stay overnight in the US following their first match, being forced to return to their base in Mexico. However, they are being allowed to stay the night before matches.
The team had been expected to spend the night in California to maximise the normal recovery process after their opening game, only to be told after the match everyone had to immediately get on a plane for the trip back to Tijuana.
“They didn’t even give us time to recover,” Iran coach Amir Ghalenoeisaid through an interpreter on Tuesday (AEST).
“After the game today, they said to us, ‘You have to leave immediately.’
“It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, (but) we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.”
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director for the White House World Cup Taskforce, confirmed to reporters Iran could continue to come the day before games but there was enough time after matches for them to go straight back to Tijuana.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei has said the team is the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.
Torabi is at the tournament as a replacement for the former Bayer Leverkusen player Sardar Azmoun, who was accused of unpatriotic behaviour. Torabi did not play against New Zealand.
While Azmoun had repeatedly criticised the Islamic system in Iran in recent years, Torabi, who plays for Tractor in the Iranian top flight, is regarded as extremely loyal to the regime.
He also openly supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who are on the US list of terrorist organisations.
AAP
