Zurich.-FIFA has confirmed the opening of an investigation into accusations of manipulation of results in the controversial Futsal match between France and Iran, corresponding to Group F of the Futsal World Championship being held in Uzbekistan.
The news was reported by the English press, specifically by The Guardian and Daily Mail, to whom the International Football Association Federation assured that it was “aware of the complaints presented by various federations.”
The match, which ended with a 4-1 victory for Iran, has generated a wave of criticism and suspicion among participating teams, including Libya, Paraguay and Thailand, which have requested a formal investigation. According to reports, the development of the match was marked by passive attitudes and an apparent lack of competitiveness on the part of both teams, especially in the first half of the match, which raised suspicions of a possible agreement between the teams.
The climax of the match came when Iran striker Salar Aghapour scored the first goal in circumstances that many have considered unusual. Thibaut Garros, France’s goalkeeper, showed no resistance in what seemed like an easy shot to save, fueling suspicions of possible fixing. The goalkeeper’s performance was described as “a shameful spectacle” on social networks, with Internet users and specialists suggesting that the French team was not playing the match with the seriousness that a world competition demands.
The final result left Iran in first place in the group, which allowed them to avoid a premature crossing against Brazil, the tournament’s top favorite. Instead, Iran will face Morocco in the round of 16, while France will play Thailand, a seemingly more favorable matchup.
The controversy has come at a crucial moment in the tournament, just as the teams prepare for the round of 16. The confirmation of the investigation has caused commotion in the three World Cup venues in Uzbekistan, where the decisive matches will be played this week. The teams that have already qualified are under scrutiny as FIFA tries to preserve the integrity of the competition. Brazil, for its part, opened the keys to the round of 16 of the competition with a 5-0 victory over Costa Rica: it will face the winner of Iran-Morocco in the quarterfinals. France, for its part, would face Verdeamarela only in a hypothetical final.
For its part, Argentina, one of the favorites of the tournament and world runner-up, continues its path with an outstanding performance in the group stage. After beating Angola 9-5, the Albiceleste will face Croatia in the round of 16, with their sights set on advancing to the final phases and, eventually, facing teams like France or Thailand.
The Uzbekistan 2024 Futsal World Cup is reaching its most exciting phase, but the controversy surrounding the France-Iran match threatens to open a window of controversy. FIFA, for its part, assured that it was “aware of the complaints presented by the teams participating in the Futsal World Cup regarding the Group F match between France and Iran,” but that “no further comments will be made during this process.” is ongoing,” was the statement released by FIFA and to which Infobae had access.
On the other hand, the French newspaper Ouest-France assures that the protests in Paraguay (possible rival of the Gauls in the quarterfinals) and Libya “will not prosper”, so “no nation will be excluded” from the competition. This proposal comes after the RMC portal theorized about a possible expulsion from the tournament of both France and Iran.
Miguel Rodrigo, Thailand coach, was critical of what happened in the match between the Gauls and the Iranians: “They disgraced my sport. They are a global shame. They should not set foot on a futsal field in our lifetime. They represent the complete opposite of Fair Play and the values of an elite athlete. They should be ashamed when they hear the national anthem of their respective countries again. They are deeply disgusting. “They have lost my respect as colleagues and athletes,” he published on his personal X and Instagram profiles.
The Iranian Federation announced, for its part, that it had filed a complaint with FIFA and the Asian Confederation (AFC) against the Thailand coach for “inappropriate statements and insults.” The coach, despite the complaints of his next rival, redoubled the bet with a video that shows some plays from the match. “Now they have reported me and called me a liar, but I honestly don’t give a shit. It was shameful and embarrassing,” he said.Infobae.
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2024-09-27 09:00:14
