A press conference held in Los Angeles addressed the repression of athletes in Iran, urging FIFA to expel Iran's football federation due to government interference in sports and systematic human rights violations. Organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran in the United States (NCRI-US), the event highlighted the case of karate champion Sasan Azadvar, who was arrested in 2026 and later executed, as a symbol of the Iranian regime's crackdown on athletes.
The conference coincided with a photo exhibition documenting the persecution of Iranian athletes, aiming to draw international attention ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Speakers emphasized that Iran's continued participation in global sports events legitimizes a regime accused of using sports bodies for political control and suppressing dissent among athletes.
Participants called on FIFA to enforce its statutes prohibiting political interference in football and to take decisive action against member federations complicit in human rights abuses. The event underscored growing international scrutiny of Iran's treatment of athletes and demands for accountability within global sports governance.