Iranian soccer boss denied entry into Canada ahead of FIFA Congress

Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran's President Mehdi Taj has been denied entry into Canada -Credit:Harold Cunningham - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images With Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup still up in the air amidst the backdrop of war between the Middle Eastern nation and the U. S. and Israel, the president of their football federation has been refused entry to Canada.

The co-hosts of this summer’s tournament, along with the U. S. and Mexico, will host the FIFA Congress on Thursday in Vancouver, where Iran’s soccer boss, Mehdi Taj, was planning to be in attendance.

However, shortly after landing in Toronto along with Secretary General Hedayat Mombeini as well as his deputy Hamed Momeni, Taj found himself being questioned by local authorities, after which he was forced to return to Iran, as per Iran International . FIFA World Cup host county planning free transportation for select fans National Soccer Hall of Famer raises serious question over USMNT ahead of World Cup Taj was due to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver -Credit:ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images Taj was previously a commander within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Canada officially designated a terrorist entity two years ago. After denying Taj’s entry into Canada, the national immigration ministry opted against specifically naming him in line with privacy laws, adding that people entering the nation on visas would be dealt with on a ‘case-by-case’ basis.

It did, however, reaffirm its stance that anybody with links to the aforementioned corps would not be permitted to enter the nation. “The government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” the ministry said. It went on to add, “We have taken strong action to hold the IRGC to account and will continue to do so, while protecting the safety of Canadians and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.