Iranian Official Not Allowed To Umpire At US Open

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 22nd August 2013

Iranian Official Not Allowed To Umpire At US Open |

Iranian tennis official Adel Borghei has been banned from umpiring or acting as a line judge at the upcoming US Open because of the United States’ ongoing sanctions against his home country.

Borghei, aged 32, has officiated at seven Wimbledon championships, been part of the on-court team in an Australian Open final and has controlled tennis matches in 30 other countries. Two weeks ago he officiated in Montreal at the Rogers Cup, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Series event. He obtained certification at the bronze badge level for a chair umpire and at the silver badge level for a referee.

However the New York Times revealed Borghei had received an e-mail on behalf of Rich Kaufman, director of officials, the United States Tennis Association said “current United States law” prohibited the Open from “retaining the services of a resident of Iran.”

This is contrary to the letter he received from the USTA in May, congratulating him of securing a ‘coveted spot’ on the US Open list of officials. Borghei subsequently booked his travel to New York and obtained a visa.

“This should not be about politics,” Borghei said in a telephone interview with New York Times reporter Greg Bishop. “That’s what I have a problem here with. I don’t want to talk about politics. But they’re mixing up politics and sports.”

The problem centers around the actual type of visa obtained by Borghei. A US Treasury Department spokesman confirmed: the U.S. Open would be authorized to import the services of an Iranian official under certain visa categories including aliens with extraordinary ability and athletes, artists and entertainers.

However Borghei only entered the US on a more basic visitor’s visa. He spent close to $3,000 to cover expenses after the tournament assignment was denied and intends to lodge an appeal. “If all I cared about was the money, I wouldn’t come here. I wouldn’t be here now,” said Borghei who is currently reported to be in Florida. “I want to be in this tournament. I want to live the dream. This isn’t about money, or politics. It’s about tennis.”

The e-mail on behalf of Kaufman included an apology and expressed a hope that Borghei could work a future US Open.