Iran manager Carlos Queiroz has confirmed that goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand will not be available for Friday's World Cup 2022 Group B clash with Wales due to concussion protocol.
The 30-year-old suffered a nasty clash of faces with Majid Hosseini in Monday's opening defeat to England, which left him bleeding on the turf for several minutes.
Beiranvand controversially tried to carry on before ultimately being carried off on a stretcher, and tests revealed that the Persepolis goalkeeper had suffered a broken nose.
FIFA have ordered that Team Melli follow the concussion protocol relating to Beiranvand's injury, but the goalkeeper has been training with a mask in the build-up to Friday's clash with Wales.
Despite his reported insistence that he wants to be in the XI, Beiranvand will play no part against the Dragons but is expected to be fine for Iran's final group game against the USA on November 29.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Queiroz said: "Fortunately everything is going in a positive direction and we are happy about that, but because he had an accident related to some type of brain injury.
"Due to the medical protocol there is, you have to be respectful and there's no way around it, so he won't play tomorrow, but he'll be ready to face the United States."
Beiranvand earned his 53rd cap for Iran in the 6-2 defeat to England, which has left Team Melli at the bottom of the Group B rankings and at risk of elimination from the World Cup if results do not go their way this week.
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