Iran coach freaks out at WM-PK: "How much are you paying me for the answer?"

Created: 11/17/2022, 1:43 p.m

By: Corbinian Kothny

Iran has been criticized for human rights violations.

National coach Carlos Queiroz reacts angrily to a critical request.

Munich –

Iran is taking part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

That wasn't so clear for a long time, even though the national team had actually qualified for the finals relatively confidently.

Much more, FIFA discussed a possible exclusion of Iran.

World Cup in Qatar: FIFA discusses exclusion from Iran

There are many reasons for this: The support of the ruling mullah regime of Russia in the Ukraine war, the violent suppression of protests in their own country and the oppression of women are actually reason enough.

Iran is still taking part in the World Cup.

And with him national coach Carlos Queiroz.

The Portuguese was Iran's national coach from 2011 to 2019 and surprisingly took over from Croatian Dragan Skocic a few weeks before the World Cup.

In Group B, the Queiroz team meets England, Wales and the USA.

Carlos Queiroz is the coach of the Iran national team.

© via www.imago-images.de

World Cup in Qatar: Journalist confronts Queiroz with the situation in Iran

At the start of the World Cup, which is also much discussed in Germany, on Monday it's against group favorite England, whose wives live in luxury during the World Cup.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Queiroz was asked by a British journalist whether it was okay for him to represent a country like Iran, which oppresses women's rights, at the World Cup.

As reported by tz.de, the 69-year-old reacted quite angrily to the journalist's question.

"How much are you paying me for the answer?

You work for a private company (Editor's note: the journalist works for

), how much do you pay me?

Talk to your boss and at the end of the World Cup I can give you an answer if you make me a good offer,” Queiroz replied while standing up and ending the press conference at the same time.

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The journalist then countered: "You say: It's an honour." However, the national coach did not want to leave it that way.

"No no.

Don't put words in my mouth I didn't say.

I said how much are you paying me to answer that question.

Thanks," replied a visibly annoyed Queiroz, before adding, "I think you should start thinking about what happened to immigrants in England.

Think about it."

The Iranian national team is not only under sporting pressure at the World Cup.

The Football Federation of Iran (IRIFF), which is closely linked to the government, will try to prevent possible public protests by the players against the regime in their home country.

World Cup in Qatar: Queiroz resists pressure and nominates Azmoun

Queiroz is said to have even been asked to do without Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun.

The Bundesliga striker has repeatedly expressed solidarity with the protest movements in Iran and therefore serves as a role model.

However, Queiroz resisted and nominated the 27-year-old for the World Cup.

The Portuguese also did not stand up to further protest actions (France's captain Hugo Lloris had recently refused Europe's action).

"Everyone has the right to express themselves," he recently said.

For the Iranian national team, the World Cup will be a balancing act between the sporting challenge and the expectations of their own country to speak out publicly for the protest movements in the country.

(kk)