Khaberni - A court in Los Angeles, on Monday, ruled in favor of the FIFA decision to prohibit the raising of the previous Iranian flag during the World Cup matches, according to the sports website "The Athletic".
This flag dates back to before the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, where it was then the official emblem of the country, and today it is considered a symbol adopted by some Iranian opposition movements calling for a change of regime in Tehran, and it has remained a symbol present in the political scene even before the recent tensions between Iran and both the United States and Israel.
The "Voice of Freedom Institute", a lobbying organization concerned with the affairs of Iranians abroad, had filed a lawsuit against the FIFA decision to ban the use of the historical Iranian flag which includes the lion and sun symbol, yet the judge considered that freedom of speech rules remain limited inside "private spaces".
In response, Iran has emphasized in recent weeks the necessity for the International Football Association to ensure that World Cup matches are free from any political messages, with a confirmation on raising only the official flag of the Islamic Republic without others.
The Iranian Minister of Sports, Ahmad Donyamali, warned, saying: "We have already informed FIFA that the national team officials will withdraw from the match as soon as they hear any political slogans in the stadiums."
