Visiting Tehran, Asian Football Confederation secretary general, Peter Velappan, told local media that despite calls for the dropping of Iran from the FIFA World Cup because of controversial statements made by the country's president, "Iran has legally qualified for the World Cup and therefore FIFA supports Iran's presence in the event and there is no room for concern."
However, he did emphasise that Iran's Football Association should send their articles of association to the world football's governing body by the end of next May if they wished to "extend their membership." Velappan underlined that the FIFA rules had nothing to do with political norms and religious tenets and there was no reason for member states to avoid offering their articles of association.
However, he did emphasise that Iran's Football Association should send their articles of association to the world football's governing body by the end of next May if they wished to "extend their membership." Velappan underlined that the FIFA rules had nothing to do with political norms and religious tenets and there was no reason for member states to avoid offering their articles of association.
See also: Iran claims offense over German football cartoon (15 Feb) and Iran still faced with calls for World Cup ban (26 Jan)