AL-RAYYAN, Qatar -- United States manager Gregg Berhalter has said he and his players had no part in US Soccer Federation social media posts that removed the central image of Iran's flag, has apologized for them and has insisted that the focus of his team is on the decisive Group B match.
The USSF eventually took down the offending posts, but not before Iran filed a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee. Berhalter added that his thoughts are with the Iranian people, many of whom have engaged in protests over the treatment of women after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained by the country's morality police.