A top Iranian soccer official has stated that he has reached out to the “appropriate authorities” following confirmation from Canada’s immigration minister that travel documents for a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps were rescinded for attending a FIFA gathering in Vancouver.
This incident, which has sparked inquiries from the Conservative party, bears a resemblance to a previous event in 2022 when Canadian officials debated a special waiver for Iran’s soccer team to visit Vancouver for an international friendly match against Canada, which was eventually canceled due to public outcry.
The current controversy revolves around Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation and a former intelligence commander within the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which was designated as a terrorist organization by Canada in 2024.
Taj, accompanied by a small delegation of Iranian soccer officials, was denied entry upon landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Tuesday.
Hamed Momeni, the deputy secretary general of Iran’s Football Federation, mentioned in a message to CBC News that he is investigating the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities, without specifying which agencies he has contacted.
According to Taj’s account in Iranian media, although the group had been granted visas to enter Canada, upon arrival in Toronto, he was detained and questioned by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) regarding his affiliations with the IRGC.
A video released by the West Asia News Agency showed Taj stating that while CBSA eventually permitted their entry, the delegation decided to return to Iran due to the conduct of Canadian immigration officials.
On Thursday, Immigration Minister Lena Diab confirmed that Canada had indeed revoked Taj’s travel documents while he was en route. Taj subsequently returned to Iran.
In a video shared by Iran’s soccer federation on Telegram, Taj is seen descending an airport escalator, signaling his return to Iran after the recent trip to Canada.
In a 2022 incident, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Canada Soccer for inviting Iran’s team for an exhibition match, despite ongoing discussions within federal departments for special travel exemptions. The government eventually canceled the match due to public backlash.
Immigration lawyer Joshua Slayen highlighted that the Canadian government repeated its oversight by initially granting Taj travel documents for entry into the country, despite the previous experience in 2022.
The decision to allow Taj entry has raised concerns, with the Conservatives questioning the government’s judgment in ensuring public safety, especially with the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Various government departments were contacted for clarification on their involvement in the Iranian delegation’s admission to Canada. Canadian Heritage and IRCC provided statements, distancing themselves from any association with the Iranian Football Federation’s visit.
FIFA, the organizing body of the Vancouver event, has not responded to inquiries from CBC News, while Canada Soccer clarified that it had no operational role in the FIFA Congress and was not engaged in the matter.