The story: After days of criticism, tensions are coming to a head over the scheduling of Iran’s upcoming televised presidential debates. Critics are lashing out over the airing of the debates on the same days that the national football team faces important matches. Their worry is that the games will overshadow the debates—which have in the past electrified the electorate—and thus further depress turnout on June 18.

The coverage: Iranians on social media have criticized the hardliner-controlled state broadcaster for planning to hold the presidential debates simultaneous with the national football team’s 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers...