{"id":2877,"date":"2022-10-12T12:33:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T02:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=2877"},"modified":"2026-09-24T21:49:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:19:58","slug":"divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Divided loyalties as Queiroz returns to Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-vertically-aligned-center\" style=\"grid-template-columns:20% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1290\" height=\"391\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?resize=1290%2C391&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2761 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C91&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C310&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C233&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C465&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/SMC-Logo-and-Sub-Brand-Logos-SEP-01-22-V1_SMC-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C620&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.234), 17px);\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>The Asian Game&#8217;s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"for-a-few-weeks-in-early-september-the-drama-surrounding-carlos-queiroz-s-return-to-coach-iran-for-what-will-be-a-third-successive-world-cup-was-the-talk-of-iran-consuming-copious-amounts-of-air-time-and-column-inches-across-the-country\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">For a few weeks in early September, the drama surrounding Carlos Queiroz\u2019s return to coach Iran for what will be a third successive World Cup was the talk of Iran, consuming copious amounts of air time and column inches across the country.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then Masha Amini was killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 22-year-old with her whole life ahead of her was reportedly beaten to death in police custody just days after being arrested by the Islamic Republic\u2019s morality police for, apparently, not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suddenly, the debate and conjecture over which foreigner would coach a group of 26 men at a game of football seemed rather irrelevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amini\u2019s death sparked country-wide outrage, protests and rebellion, with women burning their hijabs in the streets and cutting their hair in open defiance of the country\u2019s religious leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a country like Iran where not just football and politics, but politics and everyday life are so interwoven, the football team, while on one hand irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, took on even more significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Players wore plain black jackets ahead of their recent friendly with Senegal, taken as a symbol of solidarity with the protesters, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BBC_Mani\/status\/1575115256568942594\">even if that has been disputed by those within the team<\/a>, while many former and current players have been openly vocal in their support of Iranian women protesting against their government, not always something that is well received by the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Legendary former player Ali Karimi, who is based in Dubai, has long been vocal in his support, which reportedly led to his house being raided and sealed by security forces. Meanwhile former player Hossein Mahini, who was part of Queiroz\u2019s squad for the 2014 World Cup, was arrested during a raid of his home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-x\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;Iranians should always be treated with dignity &amp; respect. People demand human rights. But you only know violence. I will always side with Iranians. I share their sorrows. The right side of history is always with people. Long live Mahsa Amini &amp; Iranians.&quot; &#8211; Alireza Jahanbakhsh <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FvKECrluee\">pic.twitter.com\/FvKECrluee<\/a><\/p>&mdash; The Iran Watcher (@TheIranWatcher) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheIranWatcher\/status\/1575167833582862344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 28, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the comments that were heard loudest came from arguably the team\u2019s biggest star, Sardar Azmoun, who defiantly took to Instagram to post his message of support:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDue to the rules of the National Team, we were not allowed to say anything until the conclusion of our current training camp, but I am no longer able to tolerate silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf they want to cut me from the team it is the sacrifice for a single strand of hair on an Iranian woman. There is no way this post will be erased. Shame on all you how easily you murder people. Long live the Iranian women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It prompted Iranian judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje&#8217;i to issue a stern warning, which just highlighted the bravery, and risk, of those choosing to make their voices heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThose who became famous with the support of this system\u2026all of them should know that they have to pay for the damages caused to this country\u2026they will be identified and they will be punished for their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While trivial in the context of the wider fight for justice and equality within the country, just how the ongoing unrest impacts on Iran\u2019s lead in to the World Cup remains to be seen. This, sadly, is nothing new for Iranian football, but with a number of their players domestically-based it does run the risk of compromising their preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"the-beginning-of-the-end\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The beginning of the end<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cI don\u2019t care about this. Of course there is a story, but we are focused on the playing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was Dragan Skocic\u2019s verdict after Iran were drawn to play the United States of America in the group stage of this year\u2019s FIFA World Cup. Given the historical and ongoing political tension that exists between the two countries, the narrative around the match was set as soon as the two nations were grouped together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Skocic may not have cared for the geopolitical implications of such a match up, influential figures in Iran certainly did. This was more than just a regular football match. National pride is always on the line at the World Cup, but this match, and to a lesser degree the one against England, escalated things to a new level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a id='gyqciFN_TVxz5xLIptsJ5Q' class='gie-single' href='https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/1389158170' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;'>Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'gyqciFN_TVxz5xLIptsJ5Q',sig:'ynzSVGH9kU4rQJKDEKwFnpMZBpnCfv4c3rTBgj4CxAg=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1389158170',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To lose, to the USA of all teams, would bring immense shame. Not everyone would feel that way, but those with influence and power within the ruling party certainly would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little did he know at the time, but Skocic\u2019s fate was arguably sealed the moment Qatari football legend Adel Ahmed Malalla drew Iran\u2019s name out of the pot to be drawn alongside not just the USA, but another political foe in England as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor sure, our Government officials don&#8217;t like (the thought) we (could) lose to the USA,\u201d respected Iranian journalist Hatam Shiralizadeh recently told <em>The Asian Game Podcast<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs you know, we have a political problem with them, so it&#8217;s a very important match for them [Government officials], and for us [fans], for sure. Some of them believe that we can&#8217;t win or take a draw from the US with Skocic, so they tried to change the coach behind the scenes, and put pressure on the Football Federation to change the coach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the FFIRI initially resisted that pressure, which led to the farcical situation in July of Skocic being \u2018sacked\u2019 only to be \u2018reinstated\u2019 just a few days later, the final outcome was always inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/5waZkA2mqAe3xh0hGGFAMN\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was, as our very own Scott McIntyre called it at the time, simply a \u201cstay of execution\u201d. His days were numbered and now his time is up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That April night in Doha set in motion a chain of events that have led us to where we are today, with Skocic forced to endure a months long and very public sacking, replaced by the man whose shadow the Croatian has had to operate in since being appointed &#8211; Carlos Queiroz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so, on 13 September, the worst kept secret in football was officially confirmed when Queiroz himself tweeted:<br><br>\u201cWhen the family call you home, all you do is simply just show up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"how-we-got-here\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How we got here<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s hard to know what more Dragan Skocic could have done to avoid getting sacked as Iran coach, just two months short of this year\u2019s FIFA World Cup, except perhaps change his name to Carlos Queiroz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While his appointment wasn\u2019t universally popular within Iranian football, Skocic, who had worked across Iran and the Middle East since 2011, was seen as a safe pair of hands given his knowledge of Iranian football and Iranian players, taking over from Marc Wilmots after the Belgian\u2019s disastrous rein in charge of Team Melli saw them on the brink of an embarrassing first round exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skocic\u2019s arrival brought with it an instant change in fortunes for Team Melli, who not only avoided an embarrassing early exit but then went on to win 15 of his 18 matches in charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His Iran side made light work of the final round of qualifying, losing just once on the way to finishing top of Group A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/277914106_4205295289573942_1686208071241921085_n.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/277914106_4205295289573942_1686208071241921085_n.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/277914106_4205295289573942_1686208071241921085_n.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/277914106_4205295289573942_1686208071241921085_n.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/277914106_4205295289573942_1686208071241921085_n.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Dragan Skocic (PHOTO: Instagram\/teammellifootball)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/qatar-2022-qualification-shows-irans-growth\/\">As Martin Lowe wrote<\/a> back in January:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cSkocic, a professional, flexible coach has become the calming and guiding influence this group quite clearly required. Four wins from four in June\u2019s Round 2 centralised culmination dragged them over the line, while an uncompromising relentlessness in Round 3 proved Team Melli were more than the exceptionally talented individual players on the pitch.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While they achieved great things under Queiroz, built upon a foundation of defensive solidity, there also existed a sense they had underachieved under the former Real Madrid coach such was the talent at his disposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It always seemed counterintuitive to play with such a defensive mindset when he had such attacking weapons at his disposal. But it played beautifully into the narrative that underpinned Queiroz\u2019s entire reign as Team Melli coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everything was a fight, and often that was with his own federation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lowe again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cQueiroz\u2019s stature in Iranian football transcended that of merely the national team coach, to that of an unequivocal symbol of a nation\u2019s sport. His influence across politics, culture and beyond made a campaign for World Cup qualification feel more like a freedom fight against the establishment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And so it was only natural that Queiroz\u2019s teams played in that same manner. But such a force cannot always be an underdog, especially within the sphere of Asian football where Iran had been ranked #1 for a large part, there needed to be an evolution in the way Iran played and approached its football, one that Queiroz seemed incapable of delivering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/306613403_1523043358139087_6386838514299463577_n.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/306613403_1523043358139087_6386838514299463577_n.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/306613403_1523043358139087_6386838514299463577_n.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/306613403_1523043358139087_6386838514299463577_n.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/306613403_1523043358139087_6386838514299463577_n.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Carlos Queiroz talks to Iranian reporters upon his return to Tehran (PHOTO: Instagram\/teammellifootball)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Wilmots\u2019 arrival was meant to herald that new era for Iranian football, it was Skocic that first saved the day and then sought about taking Iran in that new direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While he was appointed under a cloud of controversy, with claims the FFIRI were sidelined by influential political figures in his appointment, on the pitch at least they were notably less defensive and more attacking with their intent. It seemed to be a natural fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But not everyone was happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSome players didn\u2019t have a good relationship with the coach,\u201d winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh recently told <em>The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey didn\u2019t like the way he was playing. Some players had a very good relationship. Usually, in my experience, that\u2019s kept in the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThings that happened were unprofessional. I can\u2019t mention names, but there were people from outside who wanted to really affect the national team in terms of decisions and stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnfortunately, there were players who followed that up, which was quite sad. We, as some of the more experienced players, tried to calm it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe said, \u2018Okay, we\u2019ll stay right in the middle, it\u2019s not our decision\u2019. Now is not the time to be messing up things. That just affects us in a negative way. Thank God, everything now is more calm and settled.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the arrival of Queiroz last month looked for a period to have galvanised a somewhat divided dressing room, the latest unrest in Iran has the potential to make those divides even wider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many fans are upset with Mehdi Taremi for what they see as his tacit support of the Iranian regime, which is in stark contrast to the vehement denouncement of the regime by his strike partner Sardar Azmoun, although he has gone some way to appeasing those fans with more vocal support for the protesters in the past few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-x\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">According to reports, Mehdi Torabi insisted on taking the penalty because he wanted to unveil a message supporting Ali Khamenei.<br><br>The usual penalty taker for Persepolis is J\u00fcrgen Locadia.<br><br>He did this in 2019, when regime forces killed at least 1500 Iranian protestors in 3 days. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/48FE9Vi9Fk\">pic.twitter.com\/48FE9Vi9Fk<\/a><\/p>&mdash; The Iran Watcher (@TheIranWatcher) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheIranWatcher\/status\/1576917293866811392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 3, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, national team midfielder Mehdi Torabi made himself public enemy number one recently after his refusal to wear a black wristband in support of the protesters in a recent match between Persepolis and Tractor Sazi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further, it was reported in Iran that Torabi insisted on taking a late penalty for Persepolis, despite not being their regular penalty taker, as he wanted to reveal a message written on his shirt underneath in support of the Iranian regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He missed the spot kick, but the backlash he received on social media certainly didn\u2019t miss with many demanding the Torabi never play for the national team again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Queiroz is no stranger to the politics of coaching Iran. In many ways he revels in it. But this is uncharted territory, even for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s often said sport and politics shouldn\u2019t mix. In Iran, sport and politics are <em>always <\/em>mixed, but never has that been more true than right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Listen to the latest episode of <strong>The Asian Game Podcast<\/strong> as we go In Conversation With&#8230; Panos Armenakas<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/theasiangame\/TAG_Panos.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Asian Game&#8217;s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC. For a few weeks in early September, the drama surrounding Carlos Queiroz\u2019s return to coach Iran for what will be a third successive World Cup was the talk of Iran, consuming copious amounts of air time and column inches [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2879,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_gspb_post_css":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[94,72,512,314],"class_list":["post-2877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-fifa-world-cup","tag-iran","tag-national-teams","tag-qatar-2022"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Divided loyalties as Queiroz returns to Iran - The Asian Game<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ro_RO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Divided loyalties as Queiroz returns to Iran - The Asian Game\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Asian Game&#8217;s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC. For a few weeks in early September, the drama surrounding Carlos Queiroz\u2019s return to coach Iran for what will be a third successive World Cup was the talk of Iran, consuming copious amounts of air time and column inches [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Asian Game\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-10-12T02:03:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-24T12:19:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/iran-soccer-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Paul Williams\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@www.twitter.com\/PaulWilliams_85\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Paul Williams\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Paul Williams\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/35d5fc2ea75ad8209bf01bf0eba938f2\"},\"headline\":\"Divided loyalties as Queiroz returns to Iran\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-10-12T02:03:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-24T12:19:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1966,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/10\\\/iran-soccer-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"FIFA World Cup\",\"Iran\",\"National Teams\",\"Qatar 2022\"],\"articleSection\":[\"ANALYSIS\"],\"inLanguage\":\"ro-RO\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.theasiangame.net\\\/divided-loyalties-as-queiroz-returns-to-iran\\\/\",\"name\":\"Divided loyalties as Queiroz returns to Iran - 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