Italy could replace Iran at World Cup (Trump)

[Dinsdale]

I would hope if they do get invited Italy would decline such an offer. It would be outrageous for them to take part by sneaking in through the backdoor.

 

[NickSAFC]

Absolute joke if that happens. Timing helps, but I doubt I'll watch much or any of this at all.

 

[Mackem00]

Iran have already said they won't attend.

I thought they'd already said they would be?

 

[Wearside Wanderer II]

England should boycott this bloated, venal competition, they are never going to win it, and if they are in with a shout FIFA will intervene.

That’s been our stance since 1998 .

Quite fancy our chances this time like with Trumpy boy having a Scottish grannie

 

[Barry Quizshow]

He'll get the Fifa World Cup personally once it's finished

Tidied.

 

[Zimba]

Surely if Iran don't take part, one of the Asian sides who lost a final play off game should get the spot. No logic at all for it to go to Italy

Highest team ranking who aren't involved, I'd assume is the reason for Italy.

Whether it's fair, is another question mind.

 

[Barry Quizshow]

Highest team ranking who aren't involved, I'd assume is the reason for Italy.

Whether it's fair, is another question mind.

The Trump envoy who is behind this, a bloke called Paolo Zampolli who was born in Milan, claims Italy's four world cup wins would justify it according to the FT article.

 

[Geras]

Italy...if you do attend ,do the decent thing, decline your own anthem , wear Iranian colours . Play for Iran , win it

 

[Ghandi Floss]

If that happens, surely other international teams would boycott it? How can you dump a nation out of The World Cup because the host nation decided to bomb the fuck out of it?

There'd surely be consequences to FIFA?

Show how dense Trump is.
He should’ve bombed France. Iran had no chance of winning it.

 

[Dick Fitzwell]

I would hope if they do get invited Italy would decline such an offer. It would be outrageous for them to take part by sneaking in through the backdoor.

I doubt it's the first time an Italian has sneaked in the back door

 

[Thornton]

If someone had told me that Trump was trying to "backdoor" a specific country beginning with the letter "I" into the upcoming world cup, I wouldn't have bet on it being Italy.....

 

[Zidane]

Its going to be the worst WC ever.

 

[Shandy drinker]

Breaking

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Is there nothing he’ll interfere with
USA started the war ban them

 

[Stubbs ftm]

The Egypt vs Iran game is still being advertised over here in Seattle.

Is it still the designated "pride" fixture as well?

 

[Keith S30S]

Its going to be the worst WC ever.

Well not for those watching on the telly. It will be the same as always.

Lots of half decent games to watch to fill in the gap between the end and begining of the real footy.

I thought they'd already said they would be?

Lots of flip flopping.

They deserve to go, they qualified as of right. It's the players I care about. They earned it. I don't care about the political points scoring by either side.

 

[Zidane]

If Iran do go, can we assume they will be constantly booed if playing at US stadiums?

 

[GingerNick]

why italy though..surely other teams made the playoffs as well

 

[Trauntrian]

That would be the fairest I mean what and why should Italy be picked and not another side that failed at the last hurdle. It should be from that qualifying region.

I can't find the regulation at the moment, but I'm sure I read that if a nation pulled out of the world cup for financial or political reasons, their place would be taken by the highest ranked international team that has not already qualified.
Given the fact the wording prioritised financial reason as the likely reason for pulling out, then it was probably not written in the modern era, when there was more emphasis on confederations, so may not stick to the exact working of that.

However if they did stick to that word-for-word, Italy would be the team qualifying if Iran pull out.

If they decide to go with the top ranked team from that confederation that has not qualified, I believe that's UAE

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How do the US officials suddenly believe it's Trump's World Cup and he's in charge of the decision of who should be playing?

 

[Floyd]

Very petty. I'm just surprised they hasn't offered the spot to Israel, given Trump's form.

im absolutely loving these meltdowns from the fcukwits with TDS

 

[Iamme]

The whole thing is getting tarnished now, Russia were rightly banned from international competitions for attacking Ukraine, so why aren't the Yanks and Israel banned too?

Because Russia are our enemy. While USA and Israel are our allies..it's simple really to understand.