The head coach of Iran’s football team said his players were being “oppressed” after they were unexpectedly told to return to Mexico straight after their opening game in Los Angeles on Monday night.
Speaking after Iran drew 2-2 against New Zealand, Amir Ghalenoei said that the team had originally been cleared to stay in the US for one night before returning to their training base just over the border in Mexico on Tuesday, but that they had instead been ordered to leave moments after the game ended.
“They said we have to leave immediately. We have been asked to get on a plane,” he said. “It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, but we’ve been told to return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. We don’t know why they are returning us.”