Can you imagine a futsal goalkeeper stepping away from the goal to let a goal in during a World Cup match? That’s what happened in Uzbekistan, where the World Cup is being played and where there is total indignation over what happened in Iran vs France yesterday. Both teams were playing for first place in the group, but neither team wanted to win in order to enjoy a seemingly easier draw. Iran won in the end, but the sport and its reputations were forever tarnished.
Thailand’s futsal coach Miguel Rodrigo described the behaviour of both teams as a “worldwide disgrace”. France did not have a single shot on target in the first 20 minutes of the first half, sending two wide, while Iran tried six times.
The situation worsened at the start of the second period with an Iranian goal scored by Salar Aghapour, which goalkeeper Thibaut Garros was able to stop easily, but the ball went in front of him. The Valencian coach based in Granada, who has qualified Thailand for the round of 16 where they will face France, regretted what happened on his X account and commented:
“Whatever happens on the 27th, and admitting that we are the weaker party in this story that took place on Sunday in Bukhara, I tell France that we are waiting for you with open arms,” although he later went further and specified: “Iran and France, coaches and players, have dishonoured my sport. You are a disgrace to the world.”
Iran and France, coaches and players, have dishonoured my sport. You are a disgrace to the world.”
The two teams in Group F may have been complacent on the pitch as they were trying to avoid facing Morocco in the round of 16 and Brazil in a hypothetical semi-final. Libya and Paraguay have already officially reported the alleged match-fixing to FIFA. More federations could join in in the next few hours, but it is unlikely that the investigation will succeed.
The press conference that followed, with French coach Raphael Reynaud blaming his Iranian counterpart for what happened, was also embarrassing. “We had decided to wait for them and put in place a strategy to counter them. It was difficult in the first half, then at a certain point they started to play and we were closer to them. It was not possible and the result is a shame and we did not understand why Iran did not want to play at all. We are quite disappointed, but now we have to think about what is coming and get back into the swing of things for the round of 16 that is coming up. It is our first World Cup, we have qualified, we wanted to give a good image and it is true that it saddens us,” he said.
Captain Kevin Ramírez also made a fool of himself in front of FIFA microphones. “We are aware that we did not put on the best show, but that is also part of the competition. We were a bit dull, a bit tired as well, and we played against a very good country like Iran, which is one of the favourites for the title,” he said with a serious expression.
Source: www.lavanguardia.com
