Conservatives call on Canada Soccer to cancel match with Iranian team

The Conservatives are joining a growing number of calls for Canada Soccer to cancel a controversial exhibition game against Iran set for next month in Vancouver.

The families of those who died aboard Flight PS752 when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down the plane in 2020 — killing all 176 passengers and crew members, including 85 Canadians and permanent residents — say they plan to protest outside the stadium if the match goes ahead.

The families say they see the exhibition match as an insult because they want justice for their loved ones — especially given persistent concerns about the IRGC's possible ties to Iran's team.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said it was a bad idea for Canada Soccer to invite the Iranian soccer team to B.C. Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart also has condemned the match.

Now, Conservative MPs Matt Jeneroux and Richard Martel are calling on Canada Soccer to scrub the nearly sold-out match.

"Hosting the Iranian national soccer team as victims of Flight PS752 are still suffering and seeking compensation is reprehensible and will only further serve to legitimize the Iranian regime," the MPs wrote in a media statement.

CBC News reported this week that the head of Iran's soccer team said it would make a profit off the friendly match for the first time in 22 years.

The team's director, Hamed Estili, told Iranian state-affiliated media that Canada Soccer is paying Iran's soccer federation $400,000 for the friendly match on June 5.

WATCH: Canada Soccer to pay Iran's team $400K for match, according to Iranian official 

Canada Soccer did not confirm the quoted sum but said it's standard practice in international soccer to pay visiting teams an appearance fee to cover travel expenses.

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