Toronto (AP) – The Canadian Football Association has canceled a controversial test match against Iran after criticism from Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The meeting originally planned for June 5 in Vancouver will not take place, the association announced.
However, no specific reason was given for this. The encounter, which was only officially announced on May 12, was intended to be part of Canada’s preparation for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
“I don’t think it was a good idea to invite the Iranian soccer team here to Canada. But the organizers have to explain that,” politician Trudeau said in mid-May. The invitation was controversial because on January 8, 2020, a plane was shot down by Iranian forces near Tehran shortly after take-off. Among the 176 people killed on board were 55 Canadian citizens and 30 other residents of the country.
The Iranian Ministry of Sports condemns Canada’s decision and is demanding millions in damages. Vice Minister Sina Kallhor tweeted that the unilateral refusal of Canada proved that Western states’ claims that sport should not be politicized proved absurd. Iran will take legal action against Canada because of the cancellation and demand damages of ten million US dollars (9.3 million euros), said the deputy minister.