Consequences of ‘Death to America’ Slogan by Alireza Dabir: Cancellation of Iranian Wrestlers’ Trip to America

The head of Iran’s Islamic Republic Wrestling Federation says it is impossible for Iran’s national team to be present in America.

According to an agreement reached in Oslo, the host city of the wrestling world championships, Iran and America’s freestyle wrestling national teams were supposed to hold a friendly match in Texas on the 23rd of Bahman.

Alireza Dabir wrote to Boris Baumgartner, head of the American Wrestling Federation, stating: “I am deeply sorry to announce that due to visas not being issued to 6 members of the team, it is impossible for us to participate in the friendly match with America.”

The Iranian wrestlers’ trip to America became controversial when Dabir uttered the slogan “Death to America” during a television interview. He later emphasized at a press conference that he dislikes America.

However, any form of political hatred toward member countries of the United World Wrestling union contradicts the regulations of this organization.

Nevertheless, the American Wrestling Federation, which had made extensive preparations for this competition, refrained from responding to Dabir’s unsportsmanlike remarks.

Alireza Dabir, a Sydney Olympic champion who previously served on Tehran’s city council, has held an American green card for years and has traveled to the country regularly.

He told his American counterpart: “Until this moment, visas for two wrestlers, the team coach, the team manager, an Olympic referee from the federation, and myself have not been issued. Therefore, there is no choice but to announce the cancellation of the trip.”

Radio Farda has learned that in addition to Hojat Nazari, the head of Iran’s national team, and Mohammad Mosallayipour, a member of the world wrestling union’s referee commission, visas for Kamran Ghasempour, the 92-kilogram world champion, and Majid Dastan in the 61-kilogram category have also not been issued.

However, according to some members of the large Iranian delegation in the Emirates, they were told that visas for the remaining individuals would be issued in the coming days, but Alireza Dabir would not be allowed to enter the United States.

Dabir claimed in his letter that he faced “disrespectful and discourteous” treatment from the American consulate in Dubai.

The only detail he provided about his claim was that Iran’s national team manager was subjected to approximately five hours of “interrogation-style interview.”

He also wrote that he is confident that you and good American wrestlers played no role in these “anti-sports political developments” and will not.

Dabir portrays the host American team as responsible, while from the perspective of Iranian social media users, he himself caused this competition to fall apart.

On the 13th of Dey and simultaneously with the second anniversary of the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, he spoke of practical commitment to the slogan “Death to America,” statements aligned with the positions of the Islamic Republic’s government.

At the end of his letter, without mentioning a specific date, Dabir invited the American national team, writing: “Come to Iran at the earliest opportunity so that this friendly match can take place in Iran. I assure you that my fellow wrestling enthusiasts and hospitable countrymen will welcome you with open arms.”

As a result of Dabir’s unsportsmanlike remarks and the cancellation of the two countries’ match, Iran’s wrestlers, who have been in training camp for an extended period, have suffered, losing the opportunity to participate in an important match against their renowned American rivals.

Source: Radio Farda