Two ready-to-hand pieces of folklore ought to be put to bed today and again in November. The first that "there should be no religion or politics in sport" should be rigorously tested in Tehran when Iran meets Iraq in the Asian Qualifying Group A match today.

The next, a little closer to home, may arrive if Irish supporters are asked to travel to Tehran for the Republic of Ireland's away leg in their World Cup qualifying campaign next month.

Ireland do not yet know who they are to play, but Iran could be the team they face in the home and away games. Iran currently lie second behind Saudia Arabia in Group A. If they remain in that position they will play against the second team in Group B with the winners playing Ireland over two legs for a World Cup finals place.

What could be more simple. Fly to Tehran, wave the flag, jump in the fountain, play the bodhrβn in the square. Engage in friendly East meets West cultural exchange.

Er, not quite. The Iranian police have warned fans that they will "seriously confront" football hooliganism at the World Cup Asian qualifying matches. Hooliganism, it appears, is quite a loosely defined pattern of behaviour.

A report published yesterday in a government-run newspaper said that the police are becoming fed up and that "studies on celebrations which take place after Iranian wins in football games reveal that a minority of people try to abuse the situation and conduct illegal and illogical and abnormal acts and disrupt public order".

The Tehran police chief. Mohsen Ansari dipped his oar into the growing impatience and in a phrase obliterated the entire menu of Irish celebrations if it comes to an Irish-Iranian showdown.

"The police expect football fans to express their happiness without disrupting public order and without bringing traffic to a halt. Police will seriously confront these people who disrupt public order and break the law and will hand them over to the judiciary."

Last week, more than 180 people were arrested in Iran during celebrations to mark the country's 1-0 win over Thailand.

No details of what constituted public disorder were published, but "illogical and abnormal acts", if Ireland clinch a World Cup place, could be irresistible. You know duty free, sunshine