Iran coach Carlos Queiroz wants Jurgen Klinsmann to resign from his FIFA Technical Study Group role after the former Germany striker accused the Iranians of gamesmanship in their win over Wales.
Klinsmann criticized Iran’s antics following their World Cup Group B win against the European opponents.
He pointed at a series of fouls and the conduct of Queiroz’s coaching staff during the game, saying it was part of a deliberate strategy to make opponents lose their focus.
“That’s their culture, and that’s why Carlos Queiroz fits really well in the Iranian national team,” he said, appearing as an analyst on the BBC.
“He struggled in South America, failed with Colombia to qualify, and he failed with Egypt to qualify as well.
“Then he went back right before the World Cup to guide Iran, where he worked already for a long, long time,” he said.
“It is not by coincidence, and this is all purposely. This is just part of their culture, and this is how they play it. They work the referee, constantly in their ears, constantly in your face.”
CARLOS QUEIROZ FUMES
But former Bafana Bafana coach Queiroz did not take kindly to the comments and addressed them through a social media post on Sunday.
“You took the initiative to call me Carlos, so I believe it is proper to call you Jurgen. Right?” The 69-year-old wrote on Twitter.
“Even not knowing me personally, you question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority.
“No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch. Those remarks about Iran’s Culture, Iran National Team and my Players are a disgrace to football. Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course.”
Queiroz has called on Klinsmann to visit the Iran team camp in Qatar.
“Even saying so, we would like to invite you as our guest to come to our National Team Camp, socialize with Iran players and learn from them about the Country, the people of Iran, the poets and art, the algebra, all the millennial Persian culture And also listen from our players how much they love and respect Football.
“As American/German, we understand your no support. No problem. And despite your outrageous remarks on BBC trying to undermine our efforts, sacrifices and skills, we promise you that we will not produce any judgments regarding your culture, roots and background and that you will always be welcome to our Family.”
Klinsmann is a member of FIFA’s seven-member technical study group that is analysing the World Cup in Qatar.
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