FIFA faces legal threat over planned ban on Iran’s pre-revolution flag at this summer’s World Cup.

Amid a tense geopolitical backdrop, Iran’s World Cup journey has been shaped by ongoing regional conflict, with concerns raised over the team’s safety in the United States and comments from Donald Trump adding to uncertainty.

The World Cup is set to kick off on June 11, with Iran marking the occasion after a pre-tournament rally in Tehran, though uncertainty remains as the country’s FA president Mehdi Taj says the squad still has not secured its visas.

FIFA could now face court action over plans to ban Iran’s pre-revolution flag at World Cup venues across North America this summer, after the Institute for Voices of Liberty raised concerns and warned the issue could escalate to formal proceedings in California state or federal courts.

Speaking late last week, legal counsel Shahrokh Mokhtarzadeh confirmed no reply had been received after three days. He added: “We are preparing to commence appropriate legal proceedings in case of attempts by FIFA to exclude the Lion and Sun flag.”

Last week, reports emerged that official venue guidance will be to prohibit the flag.

When asked directly, FIFA responded by sharing its list of prohibited items, which bars any materials of a “political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature” but the body did not specify which element of the criteria the flag breaches.

The dispute has sparked strong backlash in the US and among the Iranian diaspora, with the Lion and Sun flag holding significant cultural and emotional meaning as it was removed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Taj has previously said Iran’s World Cup participation depends on a ban on unofficial flags, including the pre-revolution Lion and Sun emblem.

The issue has also drawn political attention, with Trump initially calling for Iran’s removal before later softening his stance, while Iran responded by suggesting the USA should be excluded from the 2026 tournament.

Iran reportedly explored relocating its matches to Mexico, a move supported by President Claudia Sheinbaum, while FIFA later confirmed the team’s training base had been shifted to Tijuana from its original site in Tucson, Arizona.

Iran will play all three group games in the United States, facing New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium at SoFi Stadium on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

GN

A Liverpool without Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson is hard to comprehend, however well signposted their exits have been, and as the two Anfield greats walked up to the Kop together for one last time it was also difficult to see where Arne Slot’s side are heading next season in their absence. The most positive aspect of a uniquely challenging season for Liverpool is that it is over.

Champions League qualification was at least secured courtesy of a draw against Brentford, who would have qualified for Europe themselves but for Dango Ouattara missing a glorious chance to seal victory with the final act. Salah signed off with a trademark flourish, producing the 120th assist of his Liverpool career for Curtis Jones’s opener. The Egypt international’s 93rd Premier League assist for Liverpool also ensured he overtook Steven Gerrard’s club record in his final appearance. How appropriate that Salah should depart with one more record.

Liverpool players formed guards of honour for Salah and Robertson when they were substituted and afterwards when both were presented with personalised “Champions’ Walls” by Sir Kenny Dalglish. Salah was in tears as the scale of the moment hit home after the final whistle but there were smiles later when he took selfies with supporters. Robertson stood a little further back and absorbed the adulation along with the goodbye. “I think I cried more than in my whole life,” Salah told Sky Sports. “I’m not really an emotional guy.”

They leave behind a club that have the Champions League revenue required for their summer transfer plans but also a lot of uncertainty, from Slot’s ability to coach a recovery to the capacity of new signings to fill the void.

“When you look at the league table you see big clubs who were not able to qualify for the Champions League or Europe so we cannot take it for granted,” said the Liverpool head coach. “It is clear and obvious that we wanted more but I am proud of the players because it has been a very, very difficult season. It is not what I would have loved us to achieve but taking everything into account what has happened, I am happy today that we have qualified for the Champions League.”

There were mosaics on the Kop and Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand for the departing duo and their names were sung on repeat for the opening 15 minutes. Liverpool’s performance was clearly geared at times to getting Salah on the scoresheet too.

For Slot, there was no question of punishing Salah for his latest public criticism with a demotion when Champions League football was at stake. The forward made his 442nd appearance for Liverpool as expected and so nearly provided the perfect send-off. A left-footed free-kick from the edge of the penalty area left Caoimhín Kelleher rooted to the spot only to smack a post and rebound to safety. The former Liverpool goalkeeper and the club’s former captain Jordan Henderson were given rousing receptions on their return.

Henderson exited without fanfare when leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2023. That was put right when the Brentford midfielder was substituted on the hour. All four sides of Anfield stood to applaud a huge influence on Liverpool’s success under Jürgen Klopp. Henderson was visibly moved and returned the compliment, tapping his chest above the heart as he went.

Liverpool had taken a merited lead just before Henderson’s departure. Until that point the hosts had dominated possession and the early chances as Brentford struggled to break their press. Ibrahima Konaté headed straight at Kelleher from a Robertson cross, Dominik Szoboszlai dragged a decent opportunity wide, the Brentford keeper saved impressively from Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha was close to finding the top corner after cutting in from the left. And, in keeping with Liverpool’s season, they almost conceded when put under pressure for the first time.

Kevin Schade found himself with the freedom of the Liverpool six-yard box after Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins headed a Henderson delivery back across goal. The forward had time to control and pick his spot but Alisson, back in the side after two months out injured, launched himself across goal and made a vital save with a knee.

The breakthrough was made by Salah. Released down the right by a smart Gakpo pass, the 33-year-old advanced into the area and picked out Jones with a delightful cross played with the outside of his foot. Jones steered a straightforward finish past Kelleher and Liverpool had the foundation for victory. They did not build on it.

Brentford responded well and finally performed with an intensity their situation demanded. Keith Andrews’ team were soon level when Jones headed a deep cross into the path of Keane Lewis-Potter. The left-back’s cross took a slight deflection off the Liverpool goalscorer en route to Schade, who beat Alisson with a diving header.

Kelleher denied the substitute Florian Wirtz in stoppage time and Brentford made one last push for Europe. Ouattara, rising alone to meet Vitaly Janelt’s cross, should have sent them there but miscued badly.

Possession

Liverpool59%Brentford41%

Goal attempts

Liverpool

Off target16

On target8

Brentford

Off target9

On target2

Corners

Liverpool14Brentford2

Fouls

Liverpool9Brentford8

Lineups

• 1R. Alisson
• 17C. Jones
• 5I. Konate
• 4V. van Dijk
• 26A. Robertson
• 38R. Gravenberch
• 10A. Mac Allister
• 11M. Salah
• 8D. Szoboszlai
• 73R. Ngumoha
• 18C. Gakpo

• 1C. Kelleher
• 33M. Kayode
• 4S. van den Berg
• 22N. Collins
• 23K. Lewis-Potter
• 6J. Henderson
• 27V. Janelt
• 19D. Ouattara
• 8M. Jensen
• 7K. Schade
• 9I. Thiago

Substitutes

• 25G. Mamardashvili
• 2J. Gomez89
• 3W. Endo
• 6M. Kerkez83
• 7F. Wirtz73
• 9A. Isak
• 14F. Chiesa
• 30J. Frimpong74
• 42T. Nyoni83

• 12H. Valdimarsson
• 2A. Hickey60
• 5E. Pinnock
• 10J. Dasilva
• 11R. Nelson89
• 20K. Ajer
• 24M. Damsgaard83
• 45R. Donovan
• 47K. Furo

THE GUARDIAN

I’m utterly devastated and have already shed tears,” says Manchester City fan Sophie Hope. There is a feeling of loss around the Etihad Stadium, a bereavement that everyone knew was coming but it does not make it any easier to take. The ownership may disagree but this is the club that Pep Guardiola built over the past 10 years and everyone in attendance against Aston Villa wanted to pay their respects.

This has been a glorious epoch for the club, one that has seen complete and utter misery in modern times. Relegation to the third tier at Stoke, being regularly pummelled by Manchester United and York City away are long forgotten. The transformation was under way before Guardiola arrived a decade ago and everything has been geared towards his demands and needs. Ilkay Gündogan, Ederson and Fernandinho were back as City’s greatest hits were played.

“To say City is part of my DNA is not overstating it,” Hope says. “I feel I need to try and remember that it’s football but it’s also not just football, it’s family, it’s special and Pep has brought such a huge level of enjoyment, excitement, joy and pride to our club.

“I’ve been going to City for 36 years and our next manager will be the first my dad won’t have known, he died in 2021. I have to remind myself of all the good times. The happiness Pep has brought to me, my life, to Manchester will never be replicated or forgotten.”

Guardiola created a magical mystical tour for City, taking the masses on triumphant tours to Real Madrid and a plethora of other of Europe’s most historical venues, leaving having not just won but shown complete dominance. None will be more memorable than Istanbul, City’s first Champions League trophy, won thanks to Rodri on an edgy night against Inter.

“Pep took us into a footballing galaxy that only a handful of teams in world football will ever experience,” Andy Hooper says. “I think back to watching hundreds of games at Maine Road with my grandad. Together we never even reached a major semi-final, but did witness us dropping to League One. He always told me we’d be back one day, and I believed him. Fast forward to the pinnacle of the Pep era: taking my seven-year-old lad to Istanbul to watch us complete the treble.

“Pep’s not just been our manager he’s all of us, you can tell he feels it, he loves the place, sticks up for us against anything thrown at us, he will be for ever our boss. He completed our journey from the Peter Swales lows to the ridiculous highs.”

Success changes lives, even if it is enjoyed vicariously through the local football club. Guardiola has improved the existence of tens of thousands, finding joy in the style and trophy lifts. Everyone has embraced the “Catalan Manc”, enjoying his love of the city, living in the centre of it, becoming friends with the Gallagher brothers and references to local culture.

“People called Mourinho the special one, but he’s got nothing on Pep,” says Hope. “He clearly loves Manchester, embracing it as his city. That’s how we feel about Pep, he’s our Pep.”

Many of those in love with Guardiola will get to sit in the newly expanded North Stand named in his honour, helping secure a record Etihad Stadium attendance of 60,332, a fitting way to go out. It was unveiled on Sunday while a statue will be erected somewhere in the vicinity to immortalise the immortal to ensure that some things are eternal.

All the Guardiola collectibles were on sale, from flags to scarves and plenty in between, while one group in the East Stand stood resplendent in T-shirts spelling out “Gracies Pep” to show their appreciation in his native Catalan. A mural depicting Guardiola now sits resplendent on the side of a house opposite the ground but there is no chance of him being forgotten.

Fans will probably be clubbing together to see if they can find the land of the coconuts where Guardiola will be sunning himself over the summer. At the very least, they initiated Guardiola’s new life with the palm trees by bouncing beach balls around the stands.

Guardiola should have brought his own tissues, with eyes watering when he embraced another departing legend, Bernardo Silva, after bringing the captain off. Without a handkerchief in sight, Guardiola was forced to use his Pep-branded T-shirt to wipe away the tears.

The Portuguese was given a standing ovation and guard of honour from the two teams and it seemed to finally dawn on Guardiola when he embraced a man who has provided immaculate service for nine seasons. Shortly afterwards John Stones got the same combination of standing ovation and guard of honour.

“We’ve got Guardiola,” rang out repeatedly as the head coach absorbed it for one final time, weeping. The Blue Moon has reached its highest under Guardiola, and it will rise again at Manchester City but it will never shine as bright. Guardiola finished with: “In the next years, if you see me in the States or Europe or somewhere and you are a Man City fan, come and hug me. I will need it.” So will they.

The Guardian