‘We are going to speak up’: Family of Ukraine airlines victims decry planned Canada-Iran soccer match

The families of the victims of the commercial airliner Iran shot down in 2020 are calling for Canada to cancel a soccer match between the two countries scheduled for next month in Vancouver.

The association speaking for the victims feels allowing this game to go ahead normalizes relations with Iran. It is calling on Canada to block visa access to Iran’s national soccer team.

Hamed Esmaeilion’s wife and nine-year-old daughter were killed after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched a surface to air missile at Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Jan. 8, 2020. The flight had taken off from Tehran moments before it was brought down.

“Soccer Canada answered a few minutes ago that they want to bring together people with different political beliefs and backgrounds. We don’t talk about political beliefs here. We have 177 bodies on our hands and we are talking about justice, who’s talking about different political views?” Esmaeilion, the spokesperson for the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims, asked Tuesday.

“Soccer Canada is the organization that is trying to politicize this game and they already did that. So we don’t accept that, this is wrong, and we are going to speak up.”

United Nations experts have found that Iran committed multiple human rights and international law violations before and after it shot the plane down. In total, 176 people, including 138 with links to Canada, were killed.

Mourners place candles and photographs during a vigil for those who were among the 176 people who were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 crashed after takeoff near Tehran, Iran, outside the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Codie McLachlan

Esmaeilion says he and others in the association wrote to Canada Soccer and to federal Minister of Sport Melanie Joly as soon as they heard through Iranian state media that this game was being planned. He tells CityNews they did not receive a response and got official confirmation of the game last week.

“We see three different points here: One is, this is ‘sports washing.’ They want to normalize their relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and this is the way they’re doing that, this is the beginning. The second one is that they opened the borders to the officers of the IRGC. Based on Iranian law, up to 10 officers will accompany any sports teams that go abroad,” Esmaeilion told CityNews, stressing it was the IRGC that shot down the flight.

“And the third point is about women’s rights in Iran. This federation that Soccer Canada has signed the contract with … they have no respect for women. Women were not allowed to go to a stadium to watch a game for 43 years.”

Canada is set to host Iran on June 5 as part of a two-game homestand at BC Place in Vancouver. Canada, ranked 38th in the world, and Iran, ranked 21, are preparing for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, set for this November.

PM critical of Canada Soccer move to invite Iran

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also criticized Canada Soccer’s plan to host Iran, saying he thought the move was ill-advised.

“I think it wasn’t a very good idea to invite the Iranian soccer team here to Canada. But that’s something that the organizers are going to have to explain,” the prime minister said in response to a question from a reporter Tuesday in St. John’s.

Related article: Trudeau frowns upon Canada-Iran soccer friendly

Esmaeilion says he and others in the Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims don’t have any problem with happiness and celebrations. However, he notes they do take issue with “normalizing the relationship with Iran” through an event like this.

While no concrete plans have been unveiled, Esmaeilion says he and others will protest Canada Soccer’s decision, with plans in the works.

“We don’t accept this. We don’t accept this and this is the wrong decision that they made. They have to cancel it, they have to step back and say, ‘We did the wrong thing,” he said, adding if Canada Soccer proceeds, families of the victims and their supporters will not stay silent.

He would also like to see the Canadian government step in.

“The government has promised us to seek justice for the victims of this crime. Now, after 28 months, we don’t have justice and we’re welcoming IRGC officers to this country. This is outrageous, this is not acceptable. Canada should stand for Canadian values,” said Esmaeilion.

CityNews has reached out to Canada Soccer for comment.

-With files from The Canadian Press