Iranian-born Swedish soccer player stopped at airport check in Houston

[Malmo Blue]

Snagging this from a local newspaper, Skånska Dagbladet:
http://www.skd.se/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/SPORT/740776351/1057

Behrang Safari stopped in US security check

One player was caught in the security check, and three others got lost at the airport - all four of them missed the plane to San José.
— Not good at all; it's unfortunate. I've never seen anything like this, says Team Sweden official Lars Richt to TT.

It's not easy these days, and it's quite a distance to Costa Rica in Central America.
Four of the players in the Swedish national soccer team didn't meet up with the other team-mates in time and didn't arrive until late Wednesday, Swedish time. As a result, they missed the first training on Proyecto Gol in the outskirts of San José.

Malmö FF defender Behrang Safari was caught in the passport/security control in Houston and was held for so long that he missed the plane.

"In Behrang's case, I think it's about origin. That's why he got the extra attention", says Richt.
Safari is of Iranian origin (he was born in Teheran in 1985) and the relations between the United States and Iran have been very tense. Especially since naval units from the two countries were close to a confrontation at the Strait of Hormuz.
Team Sweden officials didn't want to leave Safari alone, so he was accompanied by assisting coach Roland Andersson in Houston. They were booked into a plane to San José the next day.

And now, the Bush Crime Family are going after Swedish soccer players who happen to be born in Iran. Have I mentioned yet tonight...?

[peacetalksforall]

1. It didn't require brains to put together the policies of Homeland Security.

It is roved every day from the first with the colors and duct tape to causing cancellations and business slump in tourism killer Blackwater employees in NO to border decisions. Everything about the %&(*&(^& Patriot Act is a disgrace - in execution.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Yowza, he's doubly bad!

He's from "has-nukes-TOO-because-I-say-so" Iran AND "godless-socialist-hellhole" Sweden!

To Gitmo with him, I say!

[stellanoir]

3. Aaaand we all know that soccer players are notoriously terrorists.

/sarcasm

I just wish they'd stop harassing people with their idiotic and abusive racial profiling.