Vantage | How a Qassem Soleimani statue at a soccer match venue reignited the Iran-Saudi Arabia divide

In the realm of live sports, few things are as disappointing as matches being cancelled. Whether due to bad weather or security concerns, such occurrences are not uncommon. However, in the case of a recent soccer match in Iran, the reason for the cancellation was anything but ordinary – it was a bust, or more accurately, a statue. The anticipated match was between Saudi club Al-Ittihad and Iranian club Sepahan, set to take place in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Yet, instead of a thrilling game of soccer, a standoff ensued that brought the underlying tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran into sharp focus. The reason for the dispute was a statue depicting the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani was renowned in Iran for leading the Iranian Quds Force and coordinating Iran’s proxy groups in various regional conflicts. However, his actions were viewed with alarm by US and its allies, who designated him a terrorist in 2018. In 2020, he was killed in an airstrike in Baghdad, further escalating the rivalry between Iran and US.

Saudi Arabia, in particular, considered Soleimani a threat due to his role in proxy conflicts that had targetted Saudi interests including attacks on their oil shipments and cities. As a result, the Saudi team refused to play in the presence of the statue. Iran countered by claiming that the statue had always been part of the stadium even alleging that the Saudi team had practiced in front of it. This incident highlighted the fragility of the relationship between the two regional rivals. The Saudi-Iran rivalry is rooted in religious differences with Saudi Arabia representing Sunni Islam and Iran representing Shia Islam. This tension escalated in 2016 when Iranian militants attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran leading to the severing of diplomatic ties. Surprisingly, earlier that year, China had brokered a normalisation deal between the two nations leading to the reopening of embassies after seven years of severed relations. This development allowed Saudi and Iranian sports clubs to play host to each other marking a potential turning point. However, as demonstrated by the Al-Ittihad versus Sepahan match, old tensions still loomed large. The game meant to symbolise newfound cooperation instead became a battleground for past grievances. Fans in the stadium chanted, “Keep politics out of sports”, but the realities of the Middle East often made such separation difficult. Despite positive signs of reconciliation, significant differences remained notably the stance on Israel. Saudi Arabia’s warming relations with Israel including visits by Israeli delegations to the kingdom did not sit well with Iran. The Arab nations’ recognition of Israel was part of a broader objective to isolate Iran and create a united front against Tehran. Saudi Arabia went further by seeking a military deal with the United States, akin to NATO, to bolster its defence against potential threats. This move was seen as a deterrent aimed primarily at Iran. While the Saudi-Iran reset was a welcome development, it faced numerous challenges. It represented a convenient detente allowing both nations to regroup and strategise, but it did not erase the deep-seated differences that had defined their relationship for years. In the complex world of Middle Eastern politics even a soccer match could become a platform for highlighting regional rivalries serving as a reminder that sports and politics were often intertwined in unpredictable ways. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.