15/06/2026
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15/06/2026
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LOS ANGELES, Jun 15: A US court has upheld FIFA’s decision to ban the display of Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag at World Cup venues, following an emergency hearing held just hours before Iran’s opening match against New Zealand, according to The Athletic.
The case challenged FIFA’s restriction on the lion-and-sun flag associated with Iran’s monarchy-era history, which the governing body classifies as a political symbol under its stadium code of conduct prohibiting political, offensive, or discriminatory materials.
The lawsuit was filed by the Institute for Voice of Liberty and Iran fan Sam Kermanian, who argued that the ban violated free expression rights. However, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Curtis A. Kin rejected the request to block the restriction.
In his ruling, Kin said that while free speech is a fundamental right, it is not absolute, particularly in private venues, and upheld FIFA’s authority to enforce its regulations at stadiums.
The decision confirms that the ban on the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag will remain in place at World Cup matches hosted under FIFA regulations.
