Chelsea’s highly anticipated Club World Cup final clash with Paris Saint-Germain has taken an unexpected turn off the pitch, as FIFA’s appointment of Alireza Faghani as match referee has stirred major concerns and raised eyebrows across the football world.
Faghani, an experienced referee born in Iran but now holding Australian citizenship, will be in charge of the final showdown at the MetLife Stadium in New York. While his track record in officiating major international matches is not in doubt—having overseen games at the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and the Asian Cup—his selection comes at a time of significant geopolitical tension.
What’s causing unease isn’t his competence, but the timing and backdrop of this appointment. The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, coupled with the United States’ complex stance on Iranian nationals, has turned a footballing decision into a politically sensitive topic.
Faghani, notably, will be the only Iranian representative on the pitch during the final.
For Chelsea fans, there’s an added layer of concern. Faghani was in charge of the intense 2018 World Cup Round of 16 clash between Argentina and France, where he controversially awarded a penalty against Marcos Rojo for a challenge on Kylian Mbappe. While the call was technically correct, many remember how the moment shifted momentum in France’s favour.
FIFA, for their part, have backed the decision strongly. Legendary referee and FIFA officiating chief Pierluigi Collina said: “We choose based on performance, not passports.” And in fairness, Faghani’s résumé is world-class: the 2016 Olympic final, the 2018 World Cup, and various AFC tournaments. But in today’s climate, the optics of selecting someone with Iranian heritage for a match on American soil, featuring a Qatari-owned PSG, have made this far more than just a football story.
From Chelsea’s perspective, the focus must remain on the football. The Blues have done incredibly well to reach this stage and will need cool heads and disciplined performances to overcome PSG’s firepower.