Controversy at the 2024 Futsal World Cup: France and Iran Accused of Match-Fixing to Avoid Brazil

The match between France and Iran at the 2024 Futsal World Cup has sparked significant controversy, with both teams accused of attempting to manipulate the result.

France lost 4-1 to Iran, leading to claims that they intentionally underperformed to avoid facing Brazil in the knockout stages, a team with a historically dominant record in futsal. The game was peculiar, particularly when France's goalkeeper allowed a weak shot from Iran's Salar Aghapour to pass into the net, leading many to label the match as a "shameful display"​

Both France and Iran found themselves in a precarious situation heading into their group-stage clash at the 2024 Futsal World Cup. With both teams already qualified for the knockout rounds, the stakes revolved around their potential opponents. A victory for either side would result in a much tougher path forward, likely leading to a quarterfinal match against Brazil, a perennial powerhouse in futsal. Meanwhile, the losing team would face a more favorable draw, likely squaring off against Thailand.

This dynamic led to widespread speculation that both teams were intentionally playing to lose in order to avoid an early encounter with Brazil. The first half was a complete spectacle of questionable decisions, with both France and Iran seemingly making deliberate errors. Players were forcing passes back to their goalkeepers — a violation in futsal once the keeper has already touched the ball during that possession — in what appeared to be an attempt to gift indirect free-kick opportunities to the opposition.

The shameful display continued as both teams repeatedly squandered these free-kick chances, with players purposefully kicking the ball out of bounds or far off-target. In the second half, realizing that a draw would still advance Iran as the group winner, they shifted tactics and decided to play more competitively, ultimately scoring three goals. Despite this shift, the match remained marred by the earlier antics, leaving a bitter taste among viewers. Iran secured a 4-1 victory, but the damage to the integrity of the game was already done.

As investigations continue, it remains to be seen whether FIFA will take disciplinary action against France or Iran for these actions, but this has certainly cast a shadow over what should have been a display of skill and sportsmanship. The broader issue here touches on how some teams may prioritize avoiding difficult opponents over competing honorably​.

Group Stage Standings

Flash Back to a similar incident

This incident has drawn parallels to previous unethical behavior in sports. One infamous example involved Di Bufala and Barcelona, where both teams seemed unwilling to win a match in order to avoid facing Brazil in the following rounds. This tactic, seen as a way to manipulate the tournament’s outcome to one’s advantage, is not unprecedented in competitive sports. However, it goes against the core principles of fair play and competition, causing uproar in both the futsal community and among fans.

This incident, along with past controversies, highlights a troubling pattern of teams compromising ethical standards to advance further in major tournaments.