Iran Football Federation (IFF) President Ali Kafashian has sent the invitation letter to Blatter asking him to inaugurate the Goal Project, an initiative by FIFA to assist countries around the world to construct their own "House of Football" and technical facilities for the development of the sport.

If Blatter accepts the invitation to attend the special ceremony in June, then FIFA's controversial ban of the Iranian women's team because they planned to wear the hijab, which is banned under the laws of the game, will be top of the agenda.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke wrote to the IFF earlier this month telling them that they would not be allowed to compete and that their place in the tournament would be taken by Thailand.

Iran's National Olympic Committee secretary general Bahram Afsharzadeh had claimed he was confident that he could get the decision reversed but those hopes have been dashed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who have backed FIFA in the row.

A spokesman for the IOC said: "In accordance with the Olympic Charter, the International Federations (IFs) are responsible for establishing the technical criteria of their sports and ensuring their application.

"The decision by FIFA (the IF) is in line with the rules of the game, which have been communicated by the IF to the Iranian NOC."

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