Khamenei's bluster on the "sufferings of Muslims" was likely to position himself as the leader of the Muslim world, but it came at a time when Iran has been preparing to deport millions of Afghan refugees, exposing the hollow support to 'Muslim Ummah'.
While the great underdog story of Morocco slaying some of the footballing giants like Spain and Portugal during the World Cup has warmed the hearts of football lovers everywhere, many people are determined to make it all about religion.