Iran seeks penalties for social media posts

A representative of Iran’s soccer federation on Sunday called for the United States to be expelled from soccer’s World Cup over social media posts that the federation claimed had “disrespected” Iran’s flag.

The United States Soccer Federation drew Iran’s ire by including a doctored Iran flag in two posts on its official social media accounts Saturday. A spokesperson for U.S. Soccer said the decision to use an Iranian flag stripped of the country’s official emblem and two lines of Islamic script in posts on Twitter and Instagram was intentional, and meant to show support for the women of Iran — a nod to protests that have roiled Iran at home and followed its team to the World Cup in Qatar.

The United States and Iran are set to meet in a crucial game Tuesday that was already fraught with political overtones and high stakes: The loser, if there is one, most likely will be eliminated from the tournament.

Iran cited a specific FIFA regulation that it said called for penalties for anyone “who offends the dignity or integrity of a country, a person or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory or derogatory words or actions” by any means whatsoever.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and it is unlikely to intervene during the tournament.

U.S. Soccer said it had deleted the two posts after a series of internal discussions Sunday and would use Iran’s official flag moving forward.

Big ratings: The United States’ 0-0 draw against England in the World Cup drew 19.98 million viewers for English- and Spanish-language broadcasts, the third-most watched men’s soccer game on U.S. television.

The match was seen by 15.3 million viewers on Fox, the most for a U.S. English-language men’s soccer telecast, and 4.6 million on Spanish-language Telemundo.

According to Nielsen, the only men’s soccer matches with more viewership on U.S. television were the 2014 final, seen by 22.67 million, and the 2010 final, seen by 21.36 million.

Late keeper switch: Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou disappeared before kickoff of his team’s shocking 2-0 World Cup win over Belgium.

Bounou lined up with the Morocco team for the national anthems and then went to speak to coach Walid Regragui, who embraced him and turned to speak to his reserve keeper, Munir El Kajoui, who ran onto the field and didn’t allow a goal.

“He came to me (after the anthems), he didn’t feel right and he asked if we should substitute him,” Regragui said.