Tensions Escalate: Monument Controversy Sparks Cancellation of Iranian-Saudi Soccer Match
Saudi soccer team cancels match in Iran over slain commander controversy; tensions rise between the two countries following the United States' assassination of the divisive Iranian general in 2020
A Saudi soccer team withdrew from an Asian Champions League match in Iran at the last minute due to controversy surrounding the assassination of an Iranian general by the United States in 2020.
The Saudi team, Al-Ittihad, was scheduled to face Sepahan FC at Naghsh-e Jahan stadium in Isfahan, Iran on Monday. However, they objected to the presence of a Qasem Soleimani bust at the entrance of the pitch. Soleimani, the former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, is regarded as a martyr by hardline Iranians but considered a terrorist in Saudi Arabia due to his support for Iran-backed militias in the Arab world. He is also despised for causing instability throughout the region.
The incident highlights the persistent disparities between the two previously antagonistic nations, even though a China-mediated agreement in March brought about the reconciliation of Tehran and Riyadh after more than seven years of hostility.
Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran meet in Beijing on April 6, 2023.
Foreign ministry of Iran/Foreign ministry of Iran
Saudi Arabia and Iran have reached an agreement to reopen their embassies following discussions in Beijing regarding the resumption of diplomatic relations. The Quds Force, recognized as a distinguished unit responsible for Iran's international operations, has been classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Soleimani, who gained considerable influence within the unit and played a pivotal role in Iran's activities throughout the Middle East, met his demise in 2020 due to a US drone strike authorized by President Donald Trump.
Al-Ittihad's match against Sepahan, scheduled as part of the Asian Champions League, was supposed to take place on Monday. However, before the game could start, Al-Ittihad's players refused to play because Sepahan officials declined their request to remove the bust. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the referees had given Iranian authorities a 30-minute ultimatum to remove the bust.
A photograph taken by AFP, via the Iranian news agency Tasnim, on Monday captures the moment when the players of Sepahan club exit the field following the cancellation of the match in Isfahan, Iran.
The head of Sepahan, Mohammad Reza Saket, expressed his surprise and disapproval of Al-Ittihad's unexpected request, stating that the bust of the deceased commander had been exhibited in the stadium for two years. Saket also highlighted that Al-Ittihad was aware of this fact and had even trained on the same field the previous night.
Sepahan said that the AFC had approved stadium conditions in a meeting on Sunday.
The AFC said the match was cancelled due to "unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances."
Videos of Iranian fans, who had assembled in large numbers to watch the game, chanting for the separation of politics and sports, were shared on social media platforms. Saudi state media also reposted these videos. However, CNN was unable to independently authenticate the footage.
Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016, following an incident where Iranian demonstrators attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran. The attack came after the execution of a Shiite Muslim clergyman in Saudi Arabia. It is important to note that Iran has a predominantly Shiite population.
On September 18, 2016, in Tehran, Iran, the Iranian Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, was present at a meeting between Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). The captured moment, beautifully captured in this image, showcases the gathering of influential figures. (Photo by Pool / Press Office of Iranian Supreme Leader/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Pool/Press Office of Iranian Supreme Leader/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Who was Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian commander killed by a US airstrike?
Both nations were involved in proxy wars that drew in neighboring countries. The recent détente has brought optimism for enduring peace as Saudi Arabia diverts its resources towards economic progress.
Soccer has emerged as a successful means of reconciliation between the once adversaries. Last month, Iranian and Saudi teams competed against each other for the first time in seven years in Iran. The streets were adorned with billboards extending a warm welcome to the Saudi teams in English, Arabic, and Farsi. Iranian soccer enthusiasts have been observed wearing jerseys of Saudi teams following the notable acquisitions of international soccer stars by the kingdom's clubs.
Last month, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, acknowledged that Tehran was giving sincere attention to repairing relations with his country. MBS mentioned that Iran was making considerable efforts towards reconciliation, and in response, Saudi Arabia was actively supporting this endeavor and hoping to witness Iran's development.
