Governing Bodies
THOUSANDS WANT IRAN OUT OF OLYMPICS PETITIONS OVER WRESTLER’S EXECUTION
BY MICHAEL HOUSTON
Thousands of people from 39 countries have signed a letter from the American Jewish Committee (AJC), urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban Iran from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics following the state execution of wrestler Navid Afkari.
The letter was delivered to IOC President Thomas Bach prior to the IOC Executive Board meeting yesterday, although the matter did not receive an update after the German reiterated his efforts to stop the execution occurring.
“Iran’s record of abuse against its own athletes is abysmal,” read the AJC letter to Bach.
The alleged arrest, torture and execution of Iranian national wrestling champion Afkari, who was given a death sentence for an alleged murder during the 2018 Iranian protests, is outlined in the letter.
His death prompted a huge outcry in sport with claims he was tortured into making a false confession.
Human-rights groups and activists also believe Afkari was unjustly targeted by the Iranian authorities to intimidate others who might choose to participate in peaceful protests.
“His only crime was that he dared to protest the oppressive regime that ultimately killed him,” the AJC said.
Political and religious persecution was also mentioned in the letter, which has prompted athletes such as Iran’s only female Olympic medallist, taekwondo player Kimia Alizadeh, to leave the country.
Others factors mentioned include the ban on Iranians competing against Israeli athletes, which led to Saeid Mollaei – an Iranian judo fighter – to flee.
The former world champion had been forced to lose a match against Israel’s Sagi Muki.
Restrictions on women in sport were also mentioned in the letter.
“To allow Iran to participate in the Tokyo Games would be to signal approval of the country’s gross and systematic violations of human rights,” the letter reads.
“Barring Iran would send a powerful message: that athletes are to be protected, that sport is to be practiced freely, and that discrimination and abuse by any country that is part of the Olympic family will not be tolerated.
“Only thus will the Olympic spirit, a spirit of peace, freedom and coexistence, truly be upheld.”
Global Athlete, a representative body for athletes worldwide, criticised the IOC for not taking further action against Iran following Afkari’s execution.
“The IOC’s failure to stand up for athletes’ human rights – their willingness to stand by while athletes are jailed, tortured, and executed – is a gross abdication of duty,” said two-time Olympian Noah Hoffman, a member of Global Athlete.
“Navid was targeted because he was an athlete.
“Any semblance of due process or the rule of law was nothing more than a sham and the IOC turned away, claiming that Navid is not their problem.
“In doing so, they have sent a message to all athletes that they do not have our backs; they don’t care what happens to us as long as the Games go on and the farce of global unity is preserved.”
Previously, the vice-president of the IOC John Coates hinted that a ban on Iran for Tokyo 2020 was “unlikely” .
“The difficulty for us is this execution didn’t relate to a sporting event,” said Coates.
“He was certainly a great athlete.
“And the other difficulty is of course that there is probably 50 of the National Olympic Committees that come from territories that still have capital punishment.
“We’ve been getting two sides to the story as to whether he got a fair go or didn’t get a fair go.”
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are currently scheduled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from July 23 to August 8.
-Insidethegames
FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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The supporters of Vancouver Whitecaps, a professional football (soccer) club in Canada, have staged a protest outside the FIFA Congress on Thursday, voicing fears that the Major League Soccer club could be relocated as uncertainty deepens over its ownership and long-term future.
The club is one of Canada’s most historic football institutions and has long been a central part of Vancouver’s sporting identity.
Around 100 fans gathered as delegates arrived for the annual FIFA meeting in Vancouver, chanting, singing and waving club flags in a show of solidarity. The demonstration comes just days after Vancouver Whitecaps FC revealed difficulties in securing a buyer willing to keep the club in the city.
The Whitecaps disclosed earlier this week that “stadium economics, venue access and revenue limitations” have complicated efforts to sell the club, despite a 16-month search for new ownership.
Season ticket holder Derek Hawksworth said supporters felt compelled to act amid growing fears of relocation.
“I wanted to come down given the threat of the team possibly moving,” he said. “It’s a rich history with the Whitecaps in North America… we want Vancouver to stay and not relocate. The history is here, and we want to continue with that history moving forward.”
The Vancouver Whitecaps are a professional football (soccer) club based in Vancouver, Canada. They currently compete in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-tier league in the United States and Canada.
Concerns were heightened by reports that cities such as Las Vegas and Phoenix are leading contenders should the club relocate.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has urged intervention, calling on the provincial government — which owns BC Place — to negotiate a “bridge deal” that would allow the team to remain while plans for a new stadium are explored. The club’s current lease at BC Place expires at the end of the year.
Despite the off-field uncertainty, the Whitecaps have been one of the standout teams this MLS season. They currently sit second in the Western Conference with 24 points from nine matches, just three points behind the San Jose Earthquakes.
For supporters, however, performances on the pitch offer little comfort as the future of their club hangs in the balance — a situation they hope global football leaders gathering in Vancouver will not ignore.
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