To: The FIFA Council and President Gianni Infantino,

We, the undersigned, urgently call for the immediate suspension of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This request is based on the federation’s failure to comply with Articles 3 and 4 of the FIFA Statutes, which mandate a strict commitment to human rights and non-discrimination.

The January 2026 Crisis On January 8th and 9th, 2026, the world witnessed a horrific escalation of violence in Iran. Peaceful protesters took to the streets to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and freedom, as guaranteed by the UN Charter. They were met with military-grade lethal force.

According to official testimony from UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato (Video Reference) and reports from Amnesty International, Iranian government forces used "shoot-to-kill" tactics, resulting in a staggering loss of life. Reports indicate that thousands of civilians—including children—were killed in less than 48 hours, followed by a total internet blackout designed to hide these atrocities from the global community.

FIFA’s Legal Obligation to Act FIFA is not merely a sports organizer; it is a global institution bound by its own laws:

• Article 3 (Human Rights): FIFA "is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights." By allowing a federation that is an integrated arm of this regime to compete, FIFA is violating its obligation to promote the protection of these rights.
• Article 4 (Non-Discrimination): This article strictly prohibits discrimination based on "political opinion." As documented in the Human Rights Watch 2026 World Report, the Iranian state’s lethal suppression of those with dissenting political views is a direct violation of the spirit and letter of this law, which carries the penalty of "suspension or expulsion."

The Right to a Dignified Future The Iranian people have a fundamental right to choose their own destiny without fear of massacre. As long as the FFIRI represents a regime that violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Articles 19 and 20), it has no place in a tournament built on the values of "fair play" and "mutual respect."

We demand that FIFA exercise its authority to suspend the FFIRI immediately. The "Beautiful Game" cannot be played while the blood of those who sought freedom is still fresh on the streets.

References & Supporting Evidence:

Amnesty International: "Iran: Authorities unleash heavily militarized clampdown to hide protest massacres" (January 23, 2026) https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/01/iran-authorities-unleash-heavily-militarized-clampdown-to-hide-protest-massacres/

UN Special Rapporteur Mai Sato: "Official Testimony on the January 2026 Human Rights Crisis in Iran (UNHRC Special Session 39)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6TxCWicB-0&t=152s

Human Rights Watch : "Iran: Human Rights Situation Spirals Deeper into Crisis (World Report 2026)" (February 4, 2026) https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/02/04/iran-human-rights-situation-spirals-deeper-into-crisis