Iranian Soccer Officials Denied Entry to Canada

0:00It's April 30th. This is Global News Today, AI-powered stories from around the world. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed that Iranian soccer officials got turned away at the border before the FIFA Congress N, Vancouver. This happened just weeks ahead of the World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The top guys from Iran's football federation, including President Meditatge, were denied entry at Toronto's Pearson Airport. Anand called the denial, unintentional, saying it wasn't her direct call, but came from immigration folks. She pointed to immigration minister Lena Diab for more details. Iranian media claimed rude treatment by Canadian border agents led to the block. Reports say, Taj got a visa on Monday, but got booted out late Tuesday, over ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which Canada labels A. Terrorist Group. Diab's office stress they review every visa, case by case, and won't comment on specifics due to privacy rules.

1:02They made it clear though, IRGC members can't enter Canada, period. FIFA hasn't weighed in yet on whether Iran's reps will make the Congress, which kicks off Thursday with folks from all 211 soccer, federations. As tensions simmer between Canada and Iran, this nag highlights how security checks can derail big soccer events right before the global spotlight hits.