Canadian MPA Anita Anand says it is her “understanding” that Iranian soccer officials were denied entry to Canada ahead of a major FIFA congress in Vancouver, describing the situation as “unintentional.”
The development follows reports from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency, that Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj and two other officials were turned away from Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
“It’s not my personal leadership, but my understanding is that the permission has been revoked. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave that up to the minister,” Anand said, referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.
Earlier Iran International reports said Taj was granted a visa but was later removed due to alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Canada lists as a terrorist entity.
Diab’s office said in a statement that visa applications are reviewed individually.
Press Secretary Taus Ait said, “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officers are unacceptable to Canada and there is no place for them in our country.”
The FIFA Congress, which begins Thursday, comes just weeks before the World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, the United States and Mexico.
