IRGC Allegedly Using Soccer for Surveillance
The primary opposition party claims that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is utilizing the country’s soccer framework as a means to monitor its citizens, potentially breaching FIFA regulations.
A report from the US Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) highlights plans to integrate Iran’s soccer federation and top team into a broader national security strategy. According to the report, at least 15 IRGC commanders have been identified within the football club’s leadership.
It’s worth noting that the NCRI is a political coalition predominantly associated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK), a controversial exiled group advocating for the overthrow of the current Iranian regime.
The NCRI presents official documents claiming that the IRGC is using positions related to team management, stadium security, and infrastructure to monitor fans, curb dissent among players, and violate FIFA’s guidelines against political interference.
Furthermore, the report asserts that facial recognition technology and various tracking systems are being employed to monitor fans. It references internal Iranian security documents, including a 2025 report from the Tehran Provincial Security Council and a security strategy from Salalah headquarters dated 2024.
Documents cited by the NCRI detail the installation of facial recognition cameras at prominent stadiums like Shaare Quds, Azadi, and Takhti. These systems reportedly use ticketing linked to the national database, allowing for the monitoring of fans by their seating arrangements and identification through national ID. There is also mention of specific police units stationed within the stadium for immediate response.
One report commenting on the situation emphasized the necessity of using surveillance to prepare for potential security incidents during matches, suggesting that riots and unrest might occur in the future.
The NCRI, based in Washington, DC, is part of an opposition coalition striving to replace the Islamic Republic with a secular and democratic regime. The organization claims to have obtained its material through the extensive network of the MEK, which is viewed as a primary opposition force by the Iranian government.
In an interview, NCRI-US Deputy Director Alireza Jafarzadeh explained that their initial focus was on documenting stadium surveillance, particularly how Iranian authorities tracked protester identities during recent protests. He remarked that reviewing the documents made it evident that the regime views sports as a significant tool for repression.
