Iran unable to receive FIFA financial support due to US sanctions

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has said that it is unable to receive financial assistance from FIFA due to sanctions against the country’s banking system, Report says citing tehrantimes.

FIFA, the world football governing body, has announced that it will distribute $150 million to member associations over the next few days as the first step of a relief plan to assist the football community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each member association will receive $500,000, along with any other remaining funds they were due to receive.

However, FFIRI has serious problems with receiving financial assistance from FIFA, as broad US restrictions on Iran’s banking system are still in force.

Ali Soleimani, the Treasurer of FFIRI, said the sanctions against Iran are in place, and “FIFA has not yet found a safe solution to pay the revenues of Iranian football and I think the problem with this financial assistance remains the same.”

“Many efforts have been made in this regard, but we have not reached a suitable solution,” he added.