US Men’s National Team Captain Apologizes for Mispronunciation of Iran (+Video)


US Men’s National Team Captain Apologizes for Mispronunciation of Iran (+Video)

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The US men’s national team (USMNT) captain, Tyler Adams, apologized for his mispronunciation of Iran while addressing the issue of discrimination in the US.

In a media conference on Monday, Adams was told by an Iranian journalist that he had been pronouncing the country’s name incorrectly – “ee-RON” not “EYE-RAN.”

The 23-year-old, who plays for English Premier League team Leeds United was then pressed by the same journalist from Iran’s PressTV about representing the US despite it being a “country that has so much discrimination against Black people in its own borders” in light of the Black Lives Matter protests which gripped the country in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd.

“There’s discrimination everywhere you go,” replied Adams, who was born in Wappingers Falls, New York.

“One thing that I’ve learned, especially from living abroad in the past years and having to fit in in different cultures and kind of assimilate into different cultures, is that in the US, we’re continuing to make progress every single day.

“Growing up for me, I grew up in a White family, and with obviously an African-American heritage and background as well,” added Adams.

“So, I had a little bit of different cultures, and I was very easily able to assimilate in different cultures. Not everyone has that ease and the ability to do that, and obviously, it takes longer to understand, and through education, I think it’s super important."

“Like you just educated me now on the pronunciation of your country. So, yeah, it’s a process. I think as long as you see progress, that’s the most important thing.”

 

 

Tyler Adams is interested in pursuing sports psychology once his playing career is over, according to the US Soccer website.

The prelude to Tuesday’s game has been overshadowed by controversy after the United States Soccer Federation disrespected Iran’s flag on its social media platforms by displaying Iran’s national flag on its official Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts without the national emblem of the Islamic Republic, enciphering the word “Allah”, that is featured on the Iranian flag.

Afterward, Iranian media called for the US to be kicked out of the 2022 World Cup.

A now-deleted graphic of the Group B standings posted on Saturday displayed the Iranian flag only bearing its green, white and red colors.

Iranian media said Sunday that the United States should be immediately kicked out of the tournament and suspended for 10 games for the “distorted image” of the country’s flag.

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