Charlton cancels Iran game due to missile tests

 Iran has not only once again defied the demand by world powers to suspend uranium enrichment but also test-fired earlier this week several missiles, including a long-range rocket which some Iranian officials said would target Israel if its nuclear sites were attacked.

 Charlton Athletic was to play against Iran on July 20 in Marbella when the Iranian team prepares for the World Cup qualification games.

 The English team however told the Iranian side that the British government has ordered the cancellation of the game.

 As a result of the cancellation, the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) plans to sue Charlton Athletic over what the federation called a one-sided annulment of the contract.

 The English club sent a fax to the FFI on Sunday, citing the missile tests as reason for the cancellation.

 The FFI in a statement condemned the club's decision as "irresponsible and unsporting" and said it would follow up the case with FIFA.

 The FFI also claimed that involving political issues in sports was against international regulations, although Iran itself has in the last three decades refrained from competing with Israeli athletes to protest the Israeli policies in Palestine and to voice support for the Palestinian people.

 Two Spanish teams have also cancelled friendly games against Iran's national team amidst the international row over Iran's nuclear programme and controversial missile tests, although Marbella and Malaga cited "technical reasons" for the cancellation.

 Iran's national team and its coach Ali Daei have since Thursday held a training camp in Marbella and planned to play several games to prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualification games.

 The political controversies in the recent years between Iran and the West, including the nuclear dispute and tirades by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against arch-foe Israel, have also caused grave problems for the national team with regards to international games.

 At least since the beginning of 2006, most of the European teams - and reportedly also their governments - prefer not to play against Iran.

 The next stop for Ali Daei's team is the Czech Republic where Iran is to play two test games against Sparta and Bohemians Prague.

DPA