Italy to Replace Iran in World Cup? Rubio: Not US Government's Stance
US Secretary of State Rubio stated that Washington welcomes the Iranian football team to participate in the FIFA World Cup held in the United States, denying that the suggestion for "Italy to replace Iran" is the US government's position.
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US-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington 23rd, comprehensive foreign report) US Secretary of State Rubio today stated that Washington welcomes the Iranian football team to participate in this year's FIFA World Cup held in the United States, and that the suggestion "for Italy to replace Iran in the competition" is not the US government's stance.
Agence France-Presse reported that Rubio (Marco Rubio), in an interview at the White House Oval Office, denied that Washington had asked the Iranian team not to participate in the World Cup; but he warned that the US might prohibit the entry of Iranian delegation members who are identified as being associated with Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The United States and many other governments have designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Regarding Iran's ability to participate in the World Cup, Rubio said: "From the US side, no one 'told them not to come' to the World Cup."
Rubio added: "The problem with Iran is not their athletes, but that they might want to bring some other people, some of whom are associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We may not be able to allow those people to enter, but not the athletes themselves."
Rubio's remarks were in response to recent media reports that US envoy Paolo Zampolli told the British "Financial Times" that he had suggested to US President Trump and FIFA that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup.
This proposal was directly rejected by the Italian government and sports officials earlier today.
Rubio stated that this suggestion does not represent the US government's position.
He said: "I don't know where this statement came from, unless someone speculated that Iran might decide not to come on its own, and then Italy would replace them... But that would have to be Iran's own decision not to participate, it would have to be their own decision."
Italy was defeated by world number 66 Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in the World Cup European qualifiers playoff final on March 31, missing out on the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time. (Compiled by Chi Chin-ling) 1150424
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington 23rd, comprehensive foreign report) US Secretary of State Rubio today stated that Washington welcomes the Iranian football team to participate in this year's FIFA World Cup held in the United States, and that the suggestion "for Italy to replace Iran in the competition" is not the US government's stance.
Agence France-Presse reported that Rubio (Marco Rubio), in an interview at the White House Oval Office, denied that Washington had asked the Iranian team not to participate in the World Cup; but he warned that the US might prohibit the entry of Iranian delegation members who are identified as being associated with Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The United States and many other governments have designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
Regarding Iran's ability to participate in the World Cup, Rubio said: "From the US side, no one 'told them not to come' to the World Cup."
Rubio added: "The problem with Iran is not their athletes, but that they might want to bring some other people, some of whom are associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We may not be able to allow those people to enter, but not the athletes themselves."
Rubio's remarks were in response to recent media reports that US envoy Paolo Zampolli told the British "Financial Times" that he had suggested to US President Trump and FIFA that Italy replace Iran in the World Cup.
This proposal was directly rejected by the Italian government and sports officials earlier today.
Rubio stated that this suggestion does not represent the US government's position.
He said: "I don't know where this statement came from, unless someone speculated that Iran might decide not to come on its own, and then Italy would replace them... But that would have to be Iran's own decision not to participate, it would have to be their own decision."
Italy was defeated by world number 66 Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout in the World Cup European qualifiers playoff final on March 31, missing out on the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time. (Compiled by Chi Chin-ling) 1150424
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.