Status: 11/24/2022 7:49 p.m
Former international Ghafouri has been arrested for criticizing the Iranian government and insulting the national soccer team. He has been one of the critics of the Islamic system for years.
Former Iranian national soccer player Voria Ghafouri has been arrested, according to the pro-government news agency Tasnim. The 35-year-old defender was accused of propaganda and insulting the national team, the Tasnim report said. No further details about the arrest were given.
The Football Association of Iran has not yet commented on the report. Ghafouri has been a critic of the Islamic system in Iran for years, particularly in connection with discrimination against women in the country. He was also sacked by his club Esteghlal Tehran last year for his public political statements, despite being extremely popular with the fans. He then moved to the southern Iranian club Foolad Khuzestan.
Protest against police brutality
Ghafouri was also not called up for the national team because of his political views, although he is still one of the best full-backs in the country. During the recent protests, Ghafouri clearly supported the demonstrators and repeatedly condemned the brutal actions of the police and security forces.
Boycott of the national anthem at the World Cup
Iran were scheduled to face Wales at Friday’s World Cup. Before the Iran national team’s first match in Qatar, the Iranian players refused to sing their country’s national anthem.
The protests in Iran were triggered by the death of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who was arrested by the vice squad in September. They quickly expanded into nationwide demonstrations calling for the overthrow of religious leaders. The protests were particularly violent in the Kurdish region of western Iran, and the security forces brutally suppressed them.