Iranian journalist barred by AFC has Women’s Asian Cup accreditation reinstated

• Alireza Mohebbi was stripped of tournament credentials on Monday

• Reporter accused of carrying prohibited flags into stadium

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reinstated the accreditation of a veteran Iranian-Australian journalist three days after it had been removed while he was covering Iran’s national team at the Women’s Asian Cup.

Alireza Mohebbi, a journalist with London-based Iran International whose question about the death of Ayatollah Khamenei was shut down at a press conference last weekend, spent some time with a group of Iran fans in the stands during their opening match against South Korea on Monday. When he returned to the media centre, he was pulled aside by a security officer and accused of carrying prohibited flags.