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Uproar after Tyler Adams is asked by Iranian journo if he's comfortable representing a 'racist country'

While many blamed Tyler Adams' accent, a user tweeted, 'It's pronounced 'Eran' it has nothing to do with accent'

AL RAYYAN, QATAR: Netizens have caused an uproar after an Iranian journalist interrupted a World Cup press conference on Monday, November 28, and chastised USMNT captain Tyler Adams for incorrectly pronouncing their nation's, Iran, name. The journalist after seemingly pointing out the spoonerism followed up with another political question by asking whether Adams was comfortable "representing a racist country."

While many social media users were proud of Adam's approach to the question, many users have slammed the Iranian media for making the sports press conference a ground for political debate. Users defended the team and blamed the accent on the issue of the problem while others simply disagreed. 

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Many noted the Iranian media seemed uninterested in talking about the game that will take place in Qatar's Al Thumama stadium on November 29 and instead bombarded US coach Gregg Berhalter and team captain Adams with politically inflammatory questions. MEAWW reported earlier, that Iran has called on FIFA to ban the US from World Cup 2022 following the United States Soccer Federation's recent social media post. US Soccer posted an image of Iran’s flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights,” reported Reuters. However, social media users showe mixed reactions.

A tweet read, "#ToomajSalehi, a popular Iranian rapper, was kidnapped by IRGC forces on October 30 and was denied the basic rights of a prisoner, such as visiting or contacting his family. He is being tortured in solitary confinement. His life is in danger. Be his voice. #مهسا_امینی@UN_HRC." Another user claimed, "Also he was told to be vocal about issues in US before expressing his concerns about other countries. I thought sport and FIFA supposed to be non-political. I am not a fan of Iranian government but hate the meddelings that gives the government excuse for crushing the protests."

One user wrote agreeing with mispronunciation, "I love Tyler, but I’m glad someone has finally taken an American to task for mispronunciation of Iran. It’s *always* pissed me off!" "Sure correct him (the condescending tone wasn’t needed but whatever) the questions of oppression or discrimination was rich coming from a country that in some parts treat women as second class citizens," another user claimed. A Twitter user pointed out that the player's accent were the reason behind the mispronunciation, "So is it cool to tell foreigners they're pronouncing our words wrong because of their accents, or is that just something others can do to us?" But another chimed in and wrote, "It's pronounced 'Eran' it has nothing to do with accent."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.