The Iranian Football Federation reported that Olympiacos forward Mehdi Taremi, and assistant coach Saeed Al-Hoey were detained by U.S. authorities as the team was departing from Mexico, ahead of their final World Cup group stage match in Seattle.
According to a statement from the Federation, officials “caused problems,” delaying the Iranian delegation as they traveled to the U.S. for the match against Egypt.
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“During the national team’s third trip to the United States, the organizing authorities caused disruption for Saeed Al-Hoey and Mehdi Taremi, delaying the delegation’s departure for Seattle, where the match against Egypt will take place,” the statement said.
Although the federation did not specify the reasons for the delay or whether Taremi and Al-Hoey were questioned, it confirmed that both players rejoined the delegation 25 minutes later and subsequently departed with it for Seattle.
As a reminder, the Iranian team and coaching staff are based in Tijuana, Mexico, as they arrived for the World Cup in the midst of the Iran–Israel war.
The incident comes one day after U.S. authorities claimed they had eased travel restrictions on the Iranian delegation, allowing it to travel to Seattle two days before the match, but still requiring its immediate departure after the game.
*photo source: AP
