The end of the slogan "Death to America" Alireza Dabir: Canceling the Iranian wrestlers' trip to America
The head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation says it is not possible for the Iranian national team to participate in the United States.
According to an agreement reached in Oslo, the venue for the World Wrestling Championships, the Iranian and American national freestyle wrestling teams were scheduled to hold a friendly match in Texas on February 15.
Alireza Dabir wrote in a letter to Boris Baumgartner, president of the USA Wrestling Federation: "I am very sorry to announce that due to the failure to grant visas to 6 members of the team, it is not possible to attend and participate in the friendly match with the United States."
The story of the Iranian wrestlers' trip to America, with the slogan "Death to America" by the secretary in a television interview, was brought to the forefront. He then emphasized in a press conference that he did not like America.
This is despite the fact that any political hatred towards the member countries of the World Wrestling Federation is contrary to the regulations of this organization.
However, the USA Wrestling Federation, which had made extensive planning for the match, refused to respond to the secretary's unsportsmanlike remarks.
Alireza Dabir, a Sydney Olympic champion who has a history of being a member of the Tehran City Council, has had a US green card for many years and has traveled to and from the country.
He told his American counterpart: "Up until now, the visas of the two wrestlers, the team coach, the team manager, the federation's Olympic referee, and myself have not been issued. Therefore, there is no choice but to cancel the trip."
Radio Farda has learned that in addition to Hojjat Nazari, head of the Iranian national team, and Mohammad Mosalaipour, a member of the International Wrestling Federation's Referees Commission, visas have not been issued to Kamran Ghasempour, the world champion in the 92 kg category, and Majid Dastan in the 61 kg category.
However, according to some of the large number of Iranian caravan attendees in the UAE, they were told that visas for the remaining members would be issued in the coming days, but Alireza Dabir would not be allowed to enter the United States.
In his letter, the secretary claimed that he encountered "disrespectful and impolite treatment" from the US consulate in Dubai.
The only point he mentioned in the details of his claim is that the head of the Iranian national team was subjected to an "interrogation-style interview" for about five hours.
He also wrote that he is confident that you and the good American wrestlers have not played a role in these "anti-sports political currents."
The secretary blames the host Iranian national team, while from the perspective of Iranian users on social media, he himself is the cause of the match's breakdown.
On January 13, coinciding with the second anniversary of the killing of Qassem Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force, he spoke of a practical commitment to the slogan "Death to America," statements that were in line with the positions of the Islamic Republic's sovereignty.
In his thesis, without mentioning a specific date, the secretary wrote, inviting the US national team: "Come to Iran at the earliest possible opportunity so that this friendly match can be held in Iran. I assure you that my friendly and hospitable fellow countrymen will welcome you with open arms."
Due to the secretary's unsportsmanlike statements and the cancellation of the two countries' competition, the Iranian national wrestling team, who have been in camp for a long time, suffered and lost the opportunity to have an important meeting with their prominent American rivals.
Source: Radio Farda
