Iran complain to FIFA about USA removing Islamic Republic symbol from flag in social media posts but Americans say decision made to support women in country

The Iranian Football Federation has complained to FIFA after the United States removed the Islamic Republic symbol from the Iran flag in social media posts.

Ahead the meeting between both sides on Tuesday, the US infuriated their opponents by posting altered images of Iran’s flag.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, the football federation will be filing a complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee and outlined theoretical sanctions.

“Respecting a nation’s flag is an accepted international practice that all other nations must emulate,” legal adviser Safia Allah Faghanpour said.

“The action conducted in relation to the Iranian flag is unethical and against international law.”

The USA’s social media posts have since been labelled ‘a hostile and provocative move’ by the Islamic Republic News Agency.

“Clearly the decision we made was to show support for the women in Iran. That stands,” a United States Soccer Federation told the Athletic.

“This is our decision, not anyone else’s or pressure from anyone else.”

The BBC had received an official complaint from the Iran Football Federation following comments made by pundit Jurgen Klinsmann

Former Germany and Tottenham forward Klinsmann said the Iran players manipulated the referee during their 2-0 victory over Wales.

He said that style of play was in their culture and Carlos Queiroz was the right manager to bring that across on the pitch.

Klinsmann later received a scathing attack from the Iran boss, but the German claims he took his comments the wrong way.

Iran is currently in the spotlight after widespread government protests, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September.

Amini was detained by forces for allegedly failing to follow the country’s Islamic dress code.

Iran Human Rights reported this week that at least 416 people have been killed, with Iran international Voria Ghafouri among the 15,000-plus arrested.