France Accused of “Dishonoring” Futsal Following Heavy Defeat to Iran

France Accused of “Dishonoring” Futsal Following Heavy Defeat to Iran at Futsal World Cup

The Futsal World Cup has been thrown into controversy as France faces accusations of match manipulation following their 4-1 loss to Iran. The defeat, which unfolded in Group F, has sparked widespread complaints, with allegations that France’s lackluster performance was intentional to secure a more favorable knockout round opponent.

Ricardo Iñiguez, head coach of Libya, was among the first to voice his outrage, describing the match as a “disgrace” on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Iñiguez, whose Libya side was eliminated from the group stage, claimed that France’s performance undermined the integrity of the tournament. “Libya is going to file an official complaint in relation to this match for ‘match fixing,’ it is a disgrace for our sport,” he posted, sparking a wave of criticism from within the futsal community.

FIFA Investigates “Match Manipulation”

In response to the growing uproar, FIFA announced it is investigating claims of “match manipulation” and breaches of the “spirit of the game.” While there is no official confirmation of match-fixing, FIFA’s inquiry will focus on the circumstances surrounding the game, particularly given the strategic advantages for the loser of the match.

France’s loss to Iran allowed them to advance to a potentially easier Round of 16 match against Thailand, while the winner, Iran, now faces African champions Morocco and a possible quarter-final showdown with powerhouse Brazil. These matchups have led to suspicions that France may have deliberately underperformed to avoid the tougher path.

Criticism from Rival Coaches

The controversy intensified when Thailand’s coach, Miguel Rodrigo, took to X to criticize both teams, calling their conduct “a world disgrace” that had “dishonored my sport.” Rodrigo’s post included footage that raised eyebrows, particularly a clip showing French goalkeeper Thibaut Garros moving away from the ball in the buildup to Iran’s opening goal.

Throughout the match, France managed just six shots on goal and scored a lone consolation after Iran had established a commanding 4-0 lead. This lack of attacking intent has only added to the suspicions surrounding the game.