Latest news with #Faghani

Sydney Morning Herald
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Congratulations traitor': A-League ref attacked by Iran after Trump photo
A-League referee Alireza Faghani has been labelled a 'traitor' by the Iranian government through a series of posters criticising him for exchanging pleasantries with Donald Trump after the FIFA Club World Cup final. Faghani, who migrated from Iran to Australia in 2019 for family reasons, has long been considered one of football's top officials and was given the job of refereeing last week's Club World Cup final in New Jersey, which Chelsea won 3-0 over Paris Saint-Germain. But his post-match interaction with the US president, who presented the trophy to Chelsea's players and then controversially remained on stage with them as they lifted it for the first time, has not gone down well in his former country. Trump also shook hands with the match officials, presented them with their medals and, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, posed together in photos with Faghani and his assistants, in which all of them made thumbs up gestures. For this, Faghani has attracted the ire of Iranian state media and the city of Qom, south of Tehran, where posters based on one of the pictures of him standing with Trump have been erected, along with the message: 'Congratulations on your medal, traitor.' The picture has been digitally altered, replacing Faghani's medal with a potato. Below are the logos of the Qom Municipality and the region's cultural, artistic, and sports organisation. The Fars News Agency reportedly wrote on its Telegram channel on Saturday: 'Just days after the Israeli and American attack on Iranian soil and the martyrdom of over a thousand Iranians, Alireza Faghani warmly greeted Trump after receiving his award and mimicked his pose in the commemorative photo.' The commentator covering the Club World Cup final on Iranian state television avoided using Faghani's name, referring to him instead as 'the referee', and the live broadcast of the ceremony was also abruptly cut short, according to reports.

The Age
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘Congratulations traitor': A-League ref attacked by Iran after Trump photo
A-League referee Alireza Faghani has been labelled a 'traitor' by the Iranian government through a series of posters criticising him for exchanging pleasantries with Donald Trump after the FIFA Club World Cup final. Faghani, who migrated from Iran to Australia in 2019 for family reasons, has long been considered one of football's top officials and was given the job of refereeing last week's Club World Cup final in New Jersey, which Chelsea won 3-0 over Paris Saint-Germain. But his post-match interaction with the US president, who presented the trophy to Chelsea's players and then controversially remained on stage with them as they lifted it for the first time, has not gone down well in his former country. Trump also shook hands with the match officials, presented them with their medals and, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, posed together in photos with Faghani and his assistants, in which all of them made thumbs up gestures. For this, Faghani has attracted the ire of Iranian state media and the city of Qom, south of Tehran, where posters based on one of the pictures of him standing with Trump have been erected, along with the message: 'Congratulations on your medal, traitor.' The picture has been digitally altered, replacing Faghani's medal with a potato. Below are the logos of the Qom Municipality and the region's cultural, artistic, and sports organisation. The Fars News Agency reportedly wrote on its Telegram channel on Saturday: 'Just days after the Israeli and American attack on Iranian soil and the martyrdom of over a thousand Iranians, Alireza Faghani warmly greeted Trump after receiving his award and mimicked his pose in the commemorative photo.' The commentator covering the Club World Cup final on Iranian state television avoided using Faghani's name, referring to him instead as 'the referee', and the live broadcast of the ceremony was also abruptly cut short, according to reports.


The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Who is the referee for the Chelsea vs PSG FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final clash?
The final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will see Chelsea face a challenge from Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States. FOLLOW LIVE | CHELSEA VS PSG LIVE SCORE, FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP FINAL WHO IS THE REFEREE FOR REAL MADRID vs PSG? The Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match will be officiated by Australian referee Alireza Faghani. Faghani, a 47-year-old who was born in Iran, worked Brazil's penalty kicks win over Germany in the 2016 men's Olympic soccer final. He worked this year's Club World Cup opener between Miami and Al Ahly, Bayern Munich's group stage game against Boca Juniors and Chelsea's quarterfinal victory over Palmeiras. He also refereed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The revamped CWC will see a total of 117 match officials – 35 referees, 58 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials – from 41 member associations take charge of the matches. Full list of match officials in Club World Cup Final: Alireza Faghani (referee) Anton Shchetinin (assistant) Ashley Warwick Beecham (assistant) Facundo Raúl Tello Figueroa (fourth official) Bastian Dankert (VAR) Tatiana Guzman (VAR assistant)


Fox Sports
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Australian Alireza Faghani to referee Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain
Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Alireza Faghani of Australia was picked to referee Sunday's Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Faghani, a 47-year-old who was born in Iran, worked Brazil's penalty kicks win over Germany in the 2016 men's Olympic soccer final. He worked this year's Club World Cup opener between Miami and Al Ahly, Bayern Munich's group stage game against Boca Juniors and Chelsea's quarterfinal victory over Palmeiras. He also refereed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. FIFA made the announcement Friday. ___ AP soccer: recommended Item 1 of 3 in this topic


San Francisco Chronicle
12-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Australian Alireza Faghani to referee Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Alireza Faghani of Australia was picked to referee Sunday's Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. Faghani, a 47-year-old who was born in Iran, worked Brazil's penalty kicks win over Germany in the 2016 men's Olympic soccer final. He worked this year's Club World Cup opener between Miami and Al Ahly, Bayern Munich's group stage game against Boca Juniors and Chelsea's quarterfinal victory over Palmeiras. He also refereed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. FIFA made the announcement Friday. ___