The president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, FFIRI, said he was granted entry into Canada but decided to return to Iran, amid scrutiny over his planned visit.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the FFIRI president stated that Canadian border officials cleared him for entry after questioning. He said he opted to turn back in the interest of the national team and to avoid unnecessary controversy.
The official had traveled to Canada ahead of scheduled meetings and activities involving the Iranian diaspora and football stakeholders.
His trip drew public attention and calls from some Canadian lawmakers and advocacy groups to deny him entry, citing Iran’s human rights record and diplomatic tensions.
Canadian authorities have not publicly commented on the specifics of his case. Immigration officials generally do not disclose details of individual border examinations due to privacy laws.
The FFIRI president did not provide a date for a future trip but said the federation would continue “football diplomacy” and engagement with Iranians abroad.
Relations between Ottawa and Tehran remain strained. Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012 and has since listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity.
