Should Iran be allowed at the World Cup?

As England’s football team prepare to face Iran in the first match of their World Cup campaign, the backdrop is already miserable. Football’s most prestigious tournament is taking place in the wrong season in a deplorable state where workers have died in the construction of stadiums. To make matters worse, the Three Lions’ first opponents are in the midst of a brutal crackdown back home on those who have dared speak out in opposition. Hundreds have died; thousands more have been locked up. 

Russia, of course, was booted out of the tournament months ago following its invasion of Ukraine. As Iran’s leaders intensify their repression on the streets of Tehran, should England’s first opponents face a similar punishment? If we’re in the business of stopping nations from participating in international sport because of disgraceful behaviour of their governments, why is the brutal suppression of protest movements – or the decades-long empire-building that Iran’s government has engaged in – not treated in the same way as Russia’s warmongering? 

Russia was banned from sport for two reasons.