December 02, 2022
Linda Blaser
Chicago Tribune turns to Ahmad Sadri for input on World Cup
The Chicago Tribune reached out to Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies Ahmad Sadri for his input on how local Iranian-Americans feel about the Iran team playing in the World Cup during a time of such turmoil in their homeland.
The article, entitled “‘We’re all hoping the US wins’: Why some Iranian soccer fans are turning on their World Cup team,” was published in the November 29 issue of the Chicago Tribune.
Here is how reporter John Keilman included Sadri’s interview in his article:
Ahmad Sadri, Gorter professor of Islamic world studies at Lake Forest College, said that schism is another tragic aspect of Iran’s participation in the World Cup, turning once-passionate fans into outright foes of the team. It’s a far cry from the days when just qualifying for the tournament could send the whole country into a frenzy, he said.
A good performance this year will be seen as a victory for the regime and a poor one will be viewed as an embarrassment, he said. Some are making jokes about England’s six goals being the same as the number of years President Raisi, frequently mocked as uneducated, spent in school.
“It has been politicized in the worst meaning of the word,” he said. “There is no sportsmanship, there is no spirit of supporting a friendly game. The whole thing is shot to hell. It’s a very sad day for Iranians in sports.”
Related Links:
- Learn more about Professor Ahmad Sadri
- CBS News interviews Ahmad Sadri for his insight on Iran uprising
- Explore the Islamic World Studies Program