One of the funniest things I've read in ages

(CNN) -- The head of Iran's soccer federation issued a public apology and a member of his staff resigned after the federation mistakenly sent a New Year's greeting to its counterpart in Israel, Iranian officials announced Sunday.
"It was a big mistake sending an e-mail to Israel's football federation," Ali Kaffashian, president of the Iran Football Federation, said in a statement carried by the semi-official Mehrs News Agency. "However, I am sure the director of the foreign relations office didn't do it on purpose."
Kaffashian said Iran's soccer league routinely sends New Year's greetings to all members of FIFA, the sport's global federation, except for Israel. Iran does not recognize Israel, which it dismisses as the "Zionist entity," and the two countries' teams do not meet in international competitions.
Mohammad-Mansour Azimzadeh Ardebili, the head of the league's foreign relations office, resigned over the matter, Kaffashian said.

Source

I wonder if the Israelis sent one back?
This had the potential to be one of the greatest peace breakthroughs since the days of the Shah, perhaps the Iranians were fishing for a response from the Israeli FA and when none came back, they went into face saving mode

Poor Iranian football team always getting politically hammered last time for the green movement bands. Iranians love football, football politics rules!

A typical case of "Reply to all"

FIFA should kick Iran out : From FIFA statutes

Article

Discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group
of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion,

politics or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by
suspension or expulsion.

An Israeli Jew and a Gazan were walking down the street (through the Erez Barrier, say). An Israeli soldier approached them and hassled them equally (it's a high security zone and they both need to be checked out) before letting them through....

No, not realistic is it? Israel is prejudicially discriminatory too.

We are talking Football here, according to FIFA rules - not national politics. What does the hypothetical couple have to do with it ?

Iran broke FIFA rules - did Israel ?

to be quite honest it's only a New Year's greeting. and I'm sorry to hear somebody lost a job over it I don't think footballers should be worrying about country politics, just winning football games

Did Israel tear down the German financed Israeli/ French built Palestinian FIFA stadium yet; as they threatened to do shortly before they were to hold an Arab V Palestinian game?