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Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj has been denied entry into Canada for the congress of the ruling body FIFA and other meetings in Vancouver.
Iran's Tasnim news agency said that Taj and two other Iran FA officials faced “inappropriate behaviour of immigration officials” as they were turned back at Toronto airport and decided to return home.
The Iran International portal said that Taj was issued a visa on Monday which was revoked the next day due to his connection with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which is rated a terrorist organization in Canada. Taj is reportedly a former IRGC member.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was quoted as saying it was her understanding that the denial of entry was "unintentional."
The immigration ministry said that it would not comment on individual cases but said in general terms that "IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country."
The FIFA congress is later on Thursday in Vancouver which is also a host city at the June 11-July 19 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Iran are qualified and due to play New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the group stage in Los Angeles and Seattle. Taj was denied a US visa for the group draw in Washington in December.
It however still remains unclear whether Iran will play, given the war with the US and Israel which started on February 28.
Continue reading...
Iran's Tasnim news agency said that Taj and two other Iran FA officials faced “inappropriate behaviour of immigration officials” as they were turned back at Toronto airport and decided to return home.
The Iran International portal said that Taj was issued a visa on Monday which was revoked the next day due to his connection with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which is rated a terrorist organization in Canada. Taj is reportedly a former IRGC member.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was quoted as saying it was her understanding that the denial of entry was "unintentional."
The immigration ministry said that it would not comment on individual cases but said in general terms that "IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country."
The FIFA congress is later on Thursday in Vancouver which is also a host city at the June 11-July 19 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Iran are qualified and due to play New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the group stage in Los Angeles and Seattle. Taj was denied a US visa for the group draw in Washington in December.
It however still remains unclear whether Iran will play, given the war with the US and Israel which started on February 28.
Continue reading...
