Two days before Iran-United States, a decisive match for the fate of the two national teams at the World Cup but also a challenge with strong political implications between 'enemy' countries, after the withdrawal of the Asian national team and Tehran, a broadside against Juergen Klinsmann, who in his glorious past on the pitch and on the bench was also coach of the stars and stripes national team.
The German has come under fire for comments in which he accused 'Team Melli' of influencing the referee during Friday's win over Wales.
The Iranian Football Federation and coach Carlos Queiroz have asked Fifa to dismiss Klinsmann from the technical study group to which he belongs, while the former Inter player today tried to correct words that some saw as a 'warning'
for the United States ahead of Tuesday's match.
Commenting on the match for the BBC, the German had underlined how Iran's players and bench "work the referee, the linesman, the fourth official. They make you lose concentration and they do it on purpose. It's part of their culture".
Words that infuriated Queiroz, who replied on Twitter: "These observations on Iranian culture, on the national team and on my players are a disgrace for football" he wrote, then inviting his former colleague to retire with his national team, but only if in the meantime he has resigned from the Fifa committee.
The Iranian Football Federation has asked Fifa for clarification and demanded an apology and Klinsmann's resignation.
For the moment, the apologies from the former coach, again to the BBC, are useless: "I described their emotional way of doing things, which is admirable - he said -. The whole bench participates in the game and Carlos is a coach very emotional, he is constantly on his feet trying to convey all his energy to his players."