Overview
- Mohammad Mohebi scored Iran’s equaliser in the 2-2 draw with New Zealand and made a hand gesture that many on social media interpreted as a ‘gun’ signal.
- Mohebi told reporters the gesture was spontaneous and meant as a fan celebration, saying it had no political intent.
- Team-mate Ramin Rezaeian ran with his shirt over his face after scoring and later acknowledged that his action carried a political message.
- Social-media users accused the team of links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while coverage split between outlets that saw the acts as routine sports celebrations and those that treated them as political signals.
- The match played out in a charged Los Angeles atmosphere where the Iranian anthem was booed and pre-revolutionary flags were displayed, coaches complained about a last-minute return to Tijuana that hurt recovery, and FIFA was reported to be watching celebratory signals though no punishment had been announced.