Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz has had a heated exchange with a British reporter as anger mounts over the country's participation in the World Cup.
Queiroz's team start their campaign with a clash against England on Monday, but FIFA are facing serious questions about allowing them to play in the tournament. There have been widespread calls for FIFA to take action amid Iran's numerous human rights abuses, though so far they have ignored those demands.
The pressure is now also ramping up on Queiroz, who returned for his second spell in charge of Iran in September. He was confronted in a press conference held before an open training session on Tuesday by a reporter. And he angrily reacted to the suggestion that he should comment without being paid on the issues around the country he represents.
"Are you ok representing a country like Iran at this World Cup that represses the rights of women?" the reporter asked.
"To which channel you work?" Queiroz replied, to which the reporter answered "Sky". Queiroz then demanded payment to answer the question and insisted he would only speak after the World Cup had ended.
"How much you pay me to answer that question? You are a private company, how much you pay me? Talk with your boss and at the end of the World Cup, I can give you the answer if you make me a good offer. Thank you," the Iran boss said as he got out of his chair to end the press conference.
"You say it's an honour," the reporter then said as Queiroz left his seat.
"No, no. I'm saying, to answer to that question, don't put in my mouth words that I did not say. I'm asking to your company, how much you pay me to answer to that question? Ok. OK, thank you," Quieroz angrily replied. "I think you should start to think about what happened with the immigrants in England also. Go think about that."
The Iranian regime is notorious for its repression of women and any domestic opponents. Protests have erupted over the last few months after the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.
Human rights charity Amnesty say that Iranian women face “daily harassment, arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment” because of veiling laws. One Iranian woman, speaking under anonymity, told the Mirror last month that England should boycott their game her country.
"One thing we would really ask for the English FA is not to play against the regime team, refuse to give them a global stage because they are torturing and killing their own people," she said.
“The World Cup also means lots of money, this regime will receive millions for playing. That’s not going to the players or for grassroots, it will be going to the regime for propaganda.
“If you go and protest on the street you’ll be treated the same as other people. But what made people hurt is they didn’t write a word on social media for 15 days. There was no reaction, even online. That hurt people. Players have some immunity, they are big names.”
