FIFA facing last-minute verdict on pre-revolutionary Iran flag ban at World Cup

FIFA could be forced to allow supporters to bring pre-revolutionary flags into Iran’s opening World Cup game against New Zealand with a hearing on a lawsuit challenging the governing body’s ban set to go ahead just hours before kick-off.

The Institute for Voices of Liberty, a Californian non-profit dedicated to advocating for Iranian people and their freedom of expression, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday and its application for a preliminary injunction on the ban will be heard on Monday morning.

The hearing is just six hours before supporters will be allowed to enter SoFi Stadium for Monday evening’s game, with the doors opening at 3pm (PT). The match kicks off at 6pm local time.

Thursday’s submission claimed that supporters who wished to fly the pre-revolutionary flag possess “protected symbolic and political speech”. The ban, the submission said, required “immediate judicial intervention.”

Despite pre-revolutionary Iran flags being prohibited, The Athletic witnessed multiple instances of supporters unfurling them during the Qatar vs. Switzerland match at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Saturday.

The pre-revolutionary Iran flag is similar to the country’s official flag, but it features a yellow lion and sun and is associated with the country’s previous regime, which was deposed in 1979.

Since then, it has been used as a form of protest against the current regime.

If an injunction is granted on Monday, which would permit the pre-revolutionary flags, then, depending on the timeframe, FIFA could lodge a late appeal. However, as the turnstiles open at 3pm, any appeal would be determined by whether the judge overseeing the case says there is time for one to be heard.

FIFA has consistently referred to stadium regulations in relation to what is and isn’t permitted to be brought into venues and declined to comment when approached by The Athletic.

If the Institute for Voices of Liberty group is successful in securing an injunction, then that could open the door for similar lawsuits and injunctions in other host cities.

Although Iran’s second World Cup Group G fixture against Belgium is also taking place in Los Angeles, their third match is in Seattle on June 26, where they will play Egypt.

FIFA was previously asked by The Athletic whether the pre-revolutionary flag would be permitted and it responded by providing a list of banned items from their stadium code of conduct.

“Any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds,” their list read.

According to a source with direct knowledge of FIFA’s planning, however, the governing body’s interpretation of the flag is that it is prohibited under their regulations. The Iranian Football Federation has previously issued FIFA with a list of demands for its attendance at the World Cup to be assured, which included “respect for the Iranian flag.”

It is not clear how, or if, the rule will be implemented in practice, particularly if many fans bring the flag to the event.