FIFA World Cup: Iran players, coach fume over shrinking socks

Carlos Queiroz

Tehran: Iran's World Cup coach and players have hit out at the country's football federation and kit sponsor for providing shrinking socks, boots that are too small and not enough equipment.


Carlos Queiroz

The row has worsened tensions between coach Carlos Queiroz and the federation over chaotic preparations for the finals, which start on June 12 in Brazil. The Portugese coach went to a training camp in Africa last month with only 12 players.

With the countdown ticking away to Iran's first Group F game against Nigeria, Queiroz criticised the makers of the Iran team strip Uhlsport.

Boots kick up a storm
"Before crucial games against Qatar and South Korea, which were played in extreme conditions of humidity, the equipment delivered was not proper," he told reporters on Sunday, before his team headed to a new World Cup training camp in Austria.

"This could have put Iran out of the World Cup," he said of the two qualifying games. Queiroz went on to lambast the federation for failing to provide proper boots or enough clothing.

"If you give shoes sized 34 to somebody that wears size 44 he cannot walk five metres," said Queiroz.

Iran, playing in the World Cup finals for the fourth time after 1978, 1998 and 2006, face a tough first round group against Argentina, Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria and debutants Bosnia.
Several players joined Queiroz in grumbling about the kit.

"They give us large size socks and after two days and being washed they shrink to a small size," said striker Karim Ansarifard at the press event.

Mohammad Reza Khalatbari hinted he believes the Iranian side was being given inferior supplies.

"The gear that we have now, we really don't know what it is," said the striker. "We are really tired of talking about this.

I don't understand why everyone is defending it. When there is something wrong, we should admit that there is a problem."