Calls for Iran to be kicked out of the World Cup mount after military experts were dispatched to help Russian troops in Ukraine

CALLS for Iran to be kicked out of the World Cup are mounting after it dispatched military experts to Ukraine to help Russian troops.

The strict Islamic state sent personnel to Crimea to help in the deadly bombing of Ukrainian cities with kamikaze drones.

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The country is already under fire for killing more than 200 protesters, including 23 children. They rose up over the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for wearing a fake headscarf.

Activists also called on Fifa to act on its ban on women attending football matches, imposed in 1979 by clerics who said allowing them to watch men play encourages promiscuity.

Iran is due to face England on November 21 but a petition urging Fifa to kick them out has more than 22,000 signatures.

One activist said: “Iranians believe the team does not represent them, but a regime that is harming its own people and violating their rights.

“FIFA claims they ‘strive to promote the protection of human rights’ – so start struggling with Fifa and protecting us and our rights.

“Many countries have already been excluded from the World Cup because of human rights violations.

“It is time for the Iranian regime to pay the price.”

It emerged this week that Iranian IT experts have been dispatched to Crimea to help Russia operate the Shahed-136 drones that have been blitzing power plants and residential areas.

Iran-made weapons destroyed nearly a third of the country’s power plants and killed at least four people.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said: “We understand that Iranian military personnel were on the ground in Crimea and assisted Russia in these operations.

“Tehran is now engaging directly on the ground and through the provision of arms that are impacting the civilian population and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The US will use all means to detect, deter and confront Iran’s deployment of these munitions against the Ukrainian people.”

The Iranian regime faces its greatest threat since the 1979 revolution after weeks of violence since the death of student Mahsa.

Fifa kicked Russia out of the World Cup semi-final play-off in February after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.

FIFA has been contacted for comment.