BBC News Online: Sport: Football

Venables fury over Iranian World Cup arrangements

Australia are preparing for the first leg of their World Cup play-off against Iran in Tehran on Saturday, the most important match in the nation's history.

Venables was hoping to fly into Iran on the morning of the match, from Dubai, where the team is training. But his plans were ruined with the Iranian Football Association making a late decision about the kick off time.

Venables claims it showed a lack of respect to his Australian players, and his mood deepened when he learnt of the poor state of the ground in Tehran.

"It's unbelievable," he said, adding that if anything has to be right for a game of this importance, then it should be the state of the pitch.

The game between Iran and Australia will decide the final place at next year's World Cup in France.

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