Talk about going into the Lion’s den! The atmosphere in Iran is more charged than ever as yesterday a German newspaper published a caricature of the Iranian players warming up in suicide bomber jackets.  The situation was already hot with the US and UN threatening sanctions and rattling sabres.  Which of course meant religious leaders stirring up emotions for a holy war and nationalistic hardliners stirring up emotions for the people to do their patriotic duty. Now all of those motions will be added to the fan’s support of their soccer team which was ridiculed in the cartoon.  And everything in that cauldron should be nice and bubbly when the Costa Rican national team visits Tehran on March 1st. 

Al Dia interviewed players and officials about the situation.

"We have gone to other countries in similar situations and we have never had any problem", pointed out José Joaquín Aguilar, of the Selections Commitee.  He did not want to admit that the Federation was in it for the money, only saying that , " The friendly has favorable economic and athletic conditions".  He said that currently there was no reason to suspend the trip, although they were monitoring the situation.

Aguilar, speaking on behalf of the Costa Rican Football Federation said that they follow FIFA’s principle of leaving aside cultural and political differences on the pitch  " Football is a way to look for peace.", he said.