Iran coach Carlos Queiroz hits back at former Inter striker Jürgen Klinsmann who had suggested Iranians have a predisposition to cheating in football.
Klinsmann, who played for Inter from 1989 until 1992, scoring 34 goals in 95 appearances, had blamed the Iranian culture and attitude after their 2-0 win over Wales earlier this week.
“This is how they play, working the ref, working the opp”, the ex-Germany striker and coach told BBC.
“They make you lose your focus, they make you lose your concentration and what’s really important to you,” he added, suggesting that Iran used unfair and sinister methods to beat the Welsh.
Klinsmann also blamed Carlos Queiroz, saying that he failed to qualify for the World Cup in his previous experiences with Colombia and Egypt, suggesting that if a European official refereed the match between Wales and Iran, the result would have been different.
Clearly, Queiroz was not impressed by Klinsmann’s claims and hit back at the ex-Inter forward with a lengthy Twitter thread.
“Dear Jurgen; You took the initiative to call me Carlos, so I believe it is proper to call you Jurgen. Right? Even not knowing me personally, you question my character with a typical prejudiced judgment of superiority,” he wrote, posting a picture of Klinsmann meeting Iran with Germany.
“No matter how much I can respect what you did inside the pitch, those remarks about Iran’s Culture, Iran National Team and my Players are a disgrace to Football. Nobody can hurt our integrity if it is not at our level, of course.
“Even saying so, we would like to invite you as our guest, to come to our National Team Camp, socialize with Iran players and learn from them about the Country, the people of Iran, the poets and art, the algebra, all the millennial Persian culture…
“And also listen from our players how much they love and respect Football. As American/German, we understand your no support. No problem. And despite your outrageous remarks on BBC trying to undermine our efforts, sacrifices and skills, we promise you that we will not produce any judgments regarding your culture, roots and background and that you will always be welcome to our Family.
“At the same time, we just want to follow with full attention what will be the decision of FIFA regarding your position as a member of Qatar 2022 Technical Study Group. Because, obviously, we expect you to resign before you visit our camp. Carlos.”
Klinsmann won one Italian Supercup and one UEFA Cup with Inter and became World Cup champion with Germany at Italia ’90 when he was under contract with the Nerazzurri.
He was Germany’s coach in 2006 but lost to Marcello Lippi’s Italy in the World Cup semi-finals, managing a third-place finish.