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FIFA issues warning to Iran after fans get unruly

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FIFA has issued a warning to the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) after missiles were thrown at the recent World Cup qualifier between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

On March 28 in Tehran's Azadi Stadium, Iran took the lead in the vital match before eventually losing 2-1 to slip into fourth place in their group.

As Saudi Arabia's players celebrated their winning goal, some fans out of 100,000 present made their feelings known in an unwelcome manner.

"In the last minutes of the match some fans threw missiles and bottles at Saudi Arabian players and the game supervisor reported that to FIFA," vice-president of Iran's Football Federation Mehdi Taj said according to Tehran's Mehr News Agency.

"We have hosted 25 matches without any problem and I hope that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee doesn't apply any sanctions against us," he added.

It is not the first time that the world governing body has locked horns with Iran's federation.

FIFA temporarily banned Iran from international competition in 2006 because of government interference in the IFF. -- Goal.com