Whitehall sources have confirmed that the Foreign Office is piling pressure on FIFA to resolve the escalating ticket row over Iran. Thousands of UK fans who bought tickets for the World Cup group match on November 21 now face refund chaos.
The flashpoint is Tehran's refusal to grant entry to British passport holders. The FA has already advised against travel. But FIFA's hands are tied by its own rules: tickets sold, payments processed. Refunds are not automatic.
One source put it bluntly: 'FIFA needs to sort this out. Fans shouldn't lose their money because of a political dispute they had no part in.'
The atmosphere is toxic. The Football Supporters' Association has been inundated with calls. Campaign groups are demanding a 'full, immediate refund'. There is talk of a legal challenge if FIFA drags its heels.
This is a classic Whitehall tangle. The FCO wants to avoid a public row, but privately they are furious. Iran's behaviour is seen as a deliberate provocation. And FIFA, as ever, is trying to play the middleman without getting its hands dirty.
What happens next? Expect a formal statement from FIFA within 48 hours. But don't hold your breath for a quick fix. The politics of this are messy, and the fans are the ones left holding the bill.
I will be updating this live as more details emerge.
