Iran suspends football ties with Greece after friendly nixed

A picture taken on May 19, 2018 shows the Iranian flag being waved at Azadi stadium with fireworks behind during the ceremony bidding farewell to the national team as they head to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia, after their international friendly match against Uzbekistan.(AFP)

TEHRAN: Iran’s official IRNA news agency says the country’s soccer federation has suspended all relations with its Greek counterpart after a friendly between the two nations scheduled in Istanbul was abruptly canceled amid ongoing Greece-Turkey tensions.
IRNA carried a statement late Thursday by the Iranian federation, saying the cancelation inflicted “serious damage” to the Iran national team’s preparations for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The statement says Iran will take “legal action” through FIFA to force Greece to financially compensate the Iranian players and sport over the cancelation.
The friendly was scheduled for Saturday in Istanbul. IRNA says after Greece pulled out, the Kosovo team was to take its place but that substitute friendly also got canceled.
The friendlies were supposed to be in preparation for the World Cup.