PARIS (Reuters) – France brushed off allegations of match-fixing after their 4-1 defeat against Iran sent them into the softest part of the draw at the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.
Les Bleus and Iran played an indolent first half before Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a soft opening goal in the second half, triggering angry reactions from other teams.
“Iran and France, coaches and players alike, have disgraced my sport. You are a disgrace to the world,” Thailand coach Miguel Rodrigo wrote on X.
Retired Brazil great Falcao was quoted by French media as saying: “It shows a lack of respect for the World Cup. The match was clearly fixed from the first minute.”
Both France and Iran were already qualified for the last 16 but the result meant that world number 10 France, second in Group F, will take on Thailand, ranked ninth before a potential quarter-final against 13th-ranked Paraguay.
Iran, the world number four, will be up against sixth-ranked Morocco ahead of a possible last-eight clash against world number one Brazil.
“It was Iran’s responsibility to be in charge of the game. The draw is more open for us but our main goal was not to get booked and to avoid injuries,” France coach Raphael Reynaud said.
The French football federation and world governing body FIFA were not immediately available for comment.
(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
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