German football great Jurgen Klinsmann has come under fire for his controversial remarks on the Iran team, which beat Wales 2-0 on Friday.
While commentating on Iran's win for British broadcaster BBC, Klinsmann said that it's the Iranian players' "culture" to play dirty and use tricks to turn the referee in their favour.
“That's their way of doing it. And that's why Carlos Queiroz, he fits really well (with) the Iranian national team,” said Klinsmann, who coached the United States from 2011-16 and led Germany to a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup.
He also disparaged players from Central America. “I worked for the US for six years. They went to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica. This fits their culture.”
Klinsmann was widely criticised on social media for his remarks.
The Iranian football federation and national team coach Queiroz, too, hit back at the former Germany great, and called for him to resign from FIFA's technical study group.
The Iranian federation said it demands an apology from Klinsmann and United States national team coach. The federation asked FIFA for "immediate clarification" on the matter.
Queiroz, who is from Portugal, accused him of having "a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority”.
“Those remarks about Iran Culture, Iran National Team and my Players are a disgrace to Football,” Queiroz wrote on Twitter.
“As a member of FIFA's technical study group, Klinsmann is supposed to provide cutting-edge analysis of all the matches at the tournament while increasing and developing understanding of the game across the world, according to the governing body.”
Queiroz invited Klinsmann to visit Iran's national team camp to see for himself how much the players love and respect the game, but called on the German to resign from FIFA's group because of his outrageous remarks first.
Klinsmann was invited by the Iranian federation, too.
“Being a German, it is promised that Mr. Klinsmann will not be judged for the most shameful episode of the World Cup History, the Disgrace of Gjon' 82, when West Germany and Austria fixed a result,” the federation said.
“As a former player, he will not be judged by his famous dramatic dives.”
