Featured Image Credit: PA Images
Fans attending Iran's 2018 World Cup qualifier against South Korea on Tuesday have been asked to dress in all black - and banned from celebrating any goals or a victory.
The Iranians are looking to qualify for their second consecutive World Cup for the first time in their history, having exited at the group stage in Brazil in 2014.
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However, when they face their Asian counterparts in the Azadi Stadium in Tehran later today, it's likely to be a pretty quiet affair, as the fixture clashes with a day of mourning in the Shia calendar.
Iran fans in the Azadi Stadium, tonight (Image credit: PA Images)
According to the Guardian, some religious hardliners had demanded that the game be called-off altogether, and replayed at a later date. However, after consulting the national team's calendar for the next 12 months, the Iranian FA allowed the game to go ahead.
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Moreover, the tie is expected to draw an incredible 100,000 capacity crowd which has resulted in the local authority calling in riot police in case any trouble breaks out between fans obeying and ignoring the day of mourning.
What do you make of the situation? Should the game have been rearranged?
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Topics: South Korea, Football