🇸🇳SenegalWest Africa
Iran warns of potential match suspension over political slogans at 2026 World Cup
via SeneNews1 min read
Iranian authorities have stated they may suspend their national team's matches at the 2026 World Cup if political demonstrations occur in the stands. According to the Iranian news agency ISNA, Sports Minister Ahmed Donyamali announced that FIFA has been informed of Tehran's stance. He indicated that any political slogans or symbols deemed hostile to the Iranian team could lead to the suspension of a match by Team Melli. The minister affirmed, "We have informed FIFA that if protests hostile to the national team are chanted, the coach will be required to suspend the match." Iranian authorities also specified that only the official flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran is permitted in the stands during national team games, with the lion and sun flag, used by some opposition groups, being prohibited. Iran is scheduled to play two group stage matches in Los Angeles, facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21. Additionally, the Iranian and Egyptian federations reportedly asked FIFA to prevent any LGBTQ+ related demonstrations during their match on June 27 in Seattle, which local organizers had previously promoted as a "Pride match." Iranian authorities claim to have received assurances from organizers regarding the proper conduct of this match.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
Singer Patrick Bruel, 67, has been charged with rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment concerning nine alleged victims. The Nanterre public prosecutor's office confirmed these charges on Wednesday. The reported incidents occurred between 2010 and 2019. Additionally, 13 other cases, which are now time-barred, have been added to the judicial inquiry initiated by the Nanterre prosecutor's office. The accusations against Bruel include a sexual assault in Grenoble in 2000, attempted rapes in Brussels and Neuilly-sur-Seine in 2010, rapes in Dinard in 2012, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in 2015, and Paris in 2019. He is also accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment in Perpignan in 2019, and sexual harassment in Ajaccio, France, and Nyon, Switzerland, both in 2019. Some of these previously dismissed cases were re-examined and subsequently included in the investigative judges' referral, according to the Nanterre prosecutor's office. Four victims who filed civil complaints are also mentioned in the introductory indictment.
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