• NOT_RICK@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    12
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    12 hours ago

    No, the Islamic Republic of Iran specifically petitioned FIFA to ensure this flag would not be permitted in the stadiums as this flag represents the regime that the Islamic Republic deposed. Iran has faced multiple rounds of serious protests even before the US initiated war and the son of the Shah is a popular figure that some protesters rally around as an alternative the existing government. Essentially the Iranian leadership sees this as a threat to their governance.

    FIFA’s solution is a blanket ban on all “political” flags, which I find kind of silly because all national flags are political symbols. There have definitely been petitions against LGBTQ+ flags in parallel to this situation though.