Iranian media confirmed the arrest of one of the country’s most prominent soccer stars, the ethnic Kurdish player Voria Ghafouri, for supporting the ongoing anti-regime protests across the country.
to sing their national anthem while it played at the stadium, a move that many interpreted as a sign of support for the protests and opposition to the regime. The team played amid audible boos from their own fans, intended as a protest against Khamenei.
The outlets, Kurdistan 24 noted, said that Ghafouri had been charged with the “crime” of “insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government.” Prior to Iran’s victory against Wales in their second match, Iranian state media outlets blamed anti-regime protests and public expressions of support for women’s rights for the 6-2 defeat against England, made even more bitter by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand injuring himself by crashing into a teammate. Some reports indicate that Beiranvand, who skipped the Wales match, will return to the field when Iran confronts the American team on Tuesday.
“To those who come to disturb the team with the issues that are not about the football opinions, they’re not welcome because our boys, they’re just simple football boys,” he claimed.
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