Iran keeper is ruled out due to concussion rule

CONCUSSION protocols have ruled Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand out of today’s crunch clash with Wales. Head coach Carlos Queiroz’s No 1 required several minutes of treatment after colliding with team-mate Majid Hosseini in the 6-2 defeat to England. Despite IFAB guidelines stating that any player suspected of concussion should be removed from the pitch, the keeper was allowed to carry on before it was clear he couldn’t go on and left the field on a stretcher. FIFA have since been in daily contact with the Iranian federation, stressing in the strongest possible terms that they have to abide by protocols. Brain injury charity Headway said it was ‘an utter disgrace’ that Beiranvand had been allowed to play on. Ex-Manchester United assistant Quieroz confirmed the inevitable when he said: ‘Due to the fact that he was involved in one incident, there is medical protocol we need to respect. There is no way to move around that. He will not play tomorrow but will be ready for the final game.’ The Iran team staged a silent protest against their nation’s ruling regime before the England game by refusing to sing the national anthem. Protests demanding the fall of the ruling Shi’ite Muslim theocracy have gripped Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini two months ago following her arrest for flouting the strict Islamic dress code. Iranian state television blacked out images of the players staying silent for the anthem before the match. Asked if the Iran team feared the consequences of their actions, star striker Mehdi Taremi insisted the players just wanted to focus on football now. ‘When we started, I explained that I don’t want to talk about political issues,’ said the Porto star. ‘But I can give you a very short answer. No, we are not under any pressure and we have come here to play football. Not only us but all the players here in Qatar. I can’t change anything. Thousands of people like me cannot change anything.’