An Iranian opposition group says Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has used soccer clubs and stadiums to spy on citizens, including claims of surveillance using facial-recognition cameras and tracking of national identification data. The allegations are presented in a report cited by multiple outlets. According to the claims, surveillance activities occur in connection with club operations and match venues, where cameras and systems can be used to identify individuals and link them to government or security records.
One outlet reports that the opposition group says it has identified and documented at least 15 IRGC commanders connected to soccer club management roles. The same reporting says the group is urging FIFA to take action, including banning the implicated team or teams before the World Cup, arguing that the operation of these clubs could enable or normalize intelligence-gathering activities.
The reports describe the claims as alleged and do not provide independent verification. No additional confirmation from Iranian officials or FIFA is included in the cited accounts.
