Speraw ‘disappointed’ over US visa denial for three Iranian players
USA volleyball head coach John Speraw said he was “disappointed” to hear that the US Embassy in Ankara has refused to issue visas for three Iranian national team players for the Volleyball Nations League.
Iran is to visit Anaheim in California for the final week of the preliminary round – starting July 4 – but head coach Behrouz Ataei will likely have to do without the trio of integral opposite spiker Amin Esmaeilnejad, setter Mohammad-Taher Vadi, and Arman Salehi.
Iran will kick off Week 3 against Tokyo Olympic champion France, before taking on Bulgaria, Argentina, and Cuba.
Speaking about the situation after his team’s straight-set victory over Iran in Rotterdam, Speraw said: “I would have been disappointed. I think any coach wants to take his best players… I’m not sure who this has affected – which players or staff – but anytime you’re going to a highly competitive environment, you wanna have everybody with you. No question I’d have been disappointed.
When told who the three players are, Speraw said: “Oh man! If I was a coach and three of my starters didn’t get visas that would be frustrating.
“I know it’s complex, you could see the emotions that were out on the court today. I’m sorry that that happened,” added the American.
Friday’s defeat was a fifth in seven games for Ataei’s men, while the Americans – last year’s runners-up – celebrated their sixth victory.
USA took the first two sets by 25-22 and 25-18 scorelines before overcoming a 20-17 deficit in the third set to win it 25-23.
“Great volleyball match,” Speraw said, adding: “We played with a lot emotion and energy.”
“I think the first set was really well played by both teams, [that was] very close. I think the end of that set and for the rest of the match, the biggest key was our serve versus their passing. They got a run of passing difficulties and that was the difference in the match.”
Meanwhile, Milad Taqavi, the secretary of the Iranian Volleyball Federation, said the country may withdraw from VNL Week 3 as “it’s impossible to take on the opponents with an incomplete squad.”
“We’ll have a meeting at the federation this week to discuss the issue and will consider all aspects of the situation before making the decision. We’re not willing to take part at the event at any cost,” added Taqavi, while he urged the sport’s international governing body, the FIVB, to come up with the proper response to the United States’ decision.