Iran arrests former football player for criticizing government
Iran has arrested a prominent former member of its national football team for criticizing the government as authorities grapple with nationwide protests. The protests are also casting a shadow over the national team competing in the FIFA World Cup in front of a global audience. Iran’s news agencies Fars and Tasnim reported Thursday that Voria Ghafouri was arrested for “insulting the national football team and campaigning against the government.” Ghafouri, who decided not to go for the World Cup, has been critical of Iranian officials throughout his career.
He has been objecting to Iran’s confrontational foreign policy, including a long-standing ban on female spectators at men’s football matches. Most recently, he expressed sympathy for the family of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman whose death in the custody of Iran’s morality police sparked protests. In recent days, he also called for an end to the violent crackdown on protests in Iran’s western Kurdish region. News of his arrest came ahead of Friday’s World Cup match between Iran and Wales. Members of the Iran national team refused to sing their national anthem before their 2–6 defeat against England in the opening match.
