Iranian Analyst Files $1 Billion Lawsuit Against FIFA

DID Press: An Iranian political analyst based in the United States has filed a $1 billion lawsuit against FIFA and its president in a federal court in Boston, claiming the disallowed goal in Iran’s World Cup match against Egypt led to the team’s elimination from the tournament.

Lotfollah Kaveh Afrasiabi, a former adviser to Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, lodged the complaint against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino.

According to the filing, Afrasiabi argues that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) wrongly disallowed a goal scored by Shoja Khalilzadeh during Iran’s World Cup match against Egypt, a decision he says resulted in Iran’s elimination and caused significant emotional harm to Iranian supporters.

The lawsuit states that Khalilzadeh’s apparent winning goal was ruled offside following a VAR review, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw that allowed Egypt to advance to the knockout stage.

Afrasiabi also cited comments by Zlatan Ibrahimović, who, according to the complaint, described the decision as “theft” while serving as a Fox Sports commentator and called on FIFA to issue an apology.

The plaintiff is seeking to have the case certified as a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 91 million Iranians and Iranian Americans. He alleges FIFA’s actions were discriminatory and racially motivated, arguing that damages could ultimately exceed $1 billion.

Afrasiabi, 68, was arrested in the United States in 2021 on charges of acting as an unregistered agent of the Iranian government. He was released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange between Iran and the United States.