"I think FIFA have to help us more than this. ...

Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us," ujar Mehdi Taremi.

Taremi menyatakan situasi buruk ini sudah berlangsung sejak beberapa bulan lalu dan mulai memengaruhi kondisi psikologis para pemain.

"It’s not good for us, you know?

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It’s not good for the football, because in a World Cup, you have to prepare good for the next game, because it is a lot of stress for the players and staff and everyone.

But we don’t have that support, and I think FIFA have to help us more than this," keluh Mehdi Taremi.

Penyerang yang bermain di lini depan tersebut merasa letih dengan segala drama non-teknis yang terjadi menjelang laga penting.

"It’s a bad situation, and we’re just tired of this situation, because from two months ago, last month, we have a lot of problems, you know?

And it’s so bad, and it affects our team," tambah Mehdi Taremi.

Saat ditanya mengenai keterlibatan pihak tertentu dalam masalah pembatasan perjalanan ini, Taremi enggan menyebut nama negara secara spesifik namun memberikan isyarat jelas.

"For sure, he wants to try to help us, but it’s about other things too. You know, everyone knows.

(I don’t) need to mention that, because you know where we are," pungkas Mehdi Taremi.

Pemain depan Iran lainnya, Mohammad Mohebbi, menilai pembatasan yang mengharuskan mereka tiba mepet di lokasi pertandingan sangat merugikan kebugaran fisik pemain.