Qatar has partnered with Iran to control which media outlets cover the World Cup in a bid to ensure the event is beneficial to the Iranian regime.
An audio tape obtained by Iran International reportedly contains discussions between a Revolutionary Guard general and a group of Revolutionary Guard-affiliated media executives discussing how to ensure the world’s biggest sport also paints Tehran in a positive light. as reported Sunday.
The recording, which Iran International reported was from Nov. 15, features General Ghasem Ghoreyshi, who tells the group that “anti-revolutionaries” bought “5,330 tickets” to the World Cup, adding that “our guys checked the list of ticket holders and at least 500 people” who bought tickets are known opponents of the regime.
Ghoresyshi appears to be referring to the Qatari authorities, who have reportedly shared a buying list of Iranian tickets with the IRGC. However, Ghoresyshi also expressed disappointment with the Qatari authorities when asked if rumors that tickets had been canceled were true, saying the country has not fully fulfilled that promise.
MANY IRANIANS WANT US VICTORY IN WORLD CUP Amid CONTINUING PROTESTS
A soccer fan holds an Iran flag before the World Cup Group B soccer match between Wales and Iran, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar.
(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
“Qatar has two different behaviors with us: one is a positive response, and it has promised to do so [cancel tickets]but they usually don’t fully deliver,” he said in the recording. They told us to give us names [of unwanted people]and we will fix it.”
Ghoresyshi also expressed frustration that Qatar has not yet banned Iran International from covering the World Cup, although another person at the meeting interrupted the general to report that the outlet had announced it had been banned by Qatar from covering the event. Ghoreyshi expressed surprise at the development, saying Iran had discussed the issue with Qatar “the day before”.
Iran International, which has frequently reported unflattering news for the Iranian regime, announced earlier this month that its journalists and camera crew had been banned from the World Cup.
Later in the recording, Ghoreshyi boasts that Qatar had agreed to control spectators at the stadium, banning stadiums with flags other than the official Islamic Republic one.
Two riot police officers wave Iranian flags during a street celebration after Iran defeated Wales in the Qatar World Cup at Sadeghieh Square in Tehran, Iran.
(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Qatar reportedly delivered on that promise during Iran’s second World Cup match against Wales, with stadium security stopping people with flags, such as the ancient Iranian flag featuring a lion and the emblem of the sun, or a simple three-color flag. Some of those spectators with unapproved flags were reportedly even arrested by the Qatari police.
The report comes amid protests that have rocked the Iranian regime in recent months with the country’s authorities fearing the protests could spill over into the World Cup, where anti-regime spectators could hold up placards or engage in behavior that would be broadcast to fans at home. .
Ghoreshyi admitted in the recording that Iran was paying the expenses of pro-regime fans in Qatar to attend matches and show support for the regime.
Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest marking 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose tragedy sparked Iran’s largest anti-government movement in over a decade, in Tehran, Iran.
(AP)
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Despite the efforts, some spectators who attended the Iranian games were heard chanting anti-regime chants and booing during the Islamic Republic anthem.
The United States plays Iran on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET on Fox.
