Eoin Sheahan

And because it's the United States, you can never write anything off in terms of something manifesting itself.

In reality, I just don't see this materialising at all.

Like you've had Marco Rubio coming out saying the Iranian footballers will be welcome in the United States.

Maybe some of their staff members and some of the people around the Iranian Federation may not be able to get visas because of their connection to terrorist organisations or organisations that are deemed to be terrorist organisations by the United States.

And that could be the issue.

Does he have more sway?

Is he more powerful than Paolo Zampolli?

It would be, look again, you can't really find the appropriate language to totally write this off.

I was going to say this would be a sporting scandal were there to be some sort of situation where Italy replaced Iran in this year's World Cup.

Exactly.

But then again, how many scandalous things have actually occurred under this administration over the past couple of years.

So maybe you wouldn't be all that surprised if that were to actually happen.

But it has always felt like a game of chicken here where the United States really wants Iran to pull out and Iran really wants the United States to kick them out.

And then they'll be able to play the poor mouth on this story, whichever side is seen as the victim in all of this.

But I don't think either side is blinking.

And I think there's an acceptance that Iran will take part in this competition, whether or not a load of Iranians are allowed into the United States with the footballers remains to be seen.

Yeah, they'll be top of the table tomorrow night, basically, if they get anything off Newcastle United.

So they'll be framing it as that.

For another five minutes, because City are in FA Cup action this weekend against Southampton.

I did come in here on Monday and completely right off the Premier League.