{"id":3032,"date":"2026-06-16T07:58:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T07:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpiran.net\/english\/?p=3032"},"modified":"2026-06-16T07:58:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T07:58:02","slug":"football-from-the-field-of-competition-to-prison-and-the-gallows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpiran.net\/english\/football-from-the-field-of-competition-to-prison-and-the-gallows\/","title":{"rendered":"Football; From the Field of Competition to Prison and the Gallows"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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While the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup has once again spread across the globe and captured the attention of millions of young people and football enthusiasts, the atmosphere within Iranian society “especially among the younger generation” reflects a notable indifference toward the event. For large segments of the population, particularly young Iranians, the traditional enthusiasm has been replaced by a striking lack of interest in the fate of Iran\u2019s national football team. The team that now competes internationally under the name of Iran is no longer viewed by a significant portion of society as a reflection of the people\u2019s identity; rather, it is seen as a propaganda showcase appropriated by the ruling establishment. This deep divide is the direct result of decades of securitization of sports and the harsh repression of athletes who chose to stand alongside public demands instead of remaining silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Football in Iran has long lost its independence and has become a highly politicized sphere under the control of security institutions. From the appointment of military and security officials to lead federations and clubs, to the continuous departure of athletes from the country, the loss of hosting rights, and the tragic self-immolation of the \u201cBlue Girl\u201d in protest against the ban on women entering stadiums, all demonstrate how the ruling system has exploited sports as a tool for gaining legitimacy and concealing its internal crises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Islamic Republic has delivered a clear and unambiguous message to the sporting community: any expression of solidarity with protests or criticism of the power structure will be met with the harshest security responses. The cost of such solidarity extends far beyond exclusion from hosting events or national teams; it includes confiscation of property, serious judicial cases, imprisonment, and even execution. The confiscation of the assets of protesting athletes is a deliberate policy aimed at creating fear and intimidation, sending a message to others about the heavy price of speaking out and standing with the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A clear manifestation of this systematic exclusion can be observed in the list of absentees from the national team in this World Cup. Sardar Azmoun, the well-known Iranian football star who had consistently adopted more public-oriented positions from the \u201cWoman, Life, Freedom\u201d uprising to the bloody protests of January 2026 and had broken his silence, no longer has a place in the squad. He had previously written openly that he was aware of the consequences and the possibility of being excluded, a prediction that ultimately came true as the national team was purged of independent and popular players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In another case, the situation of Rashid Mazaheri, former goalkeeper of Iran\u2019s national team, Esteghlal, and Sepahan, reveals the extent of security interference. After publishing a critical statement opposing Ali Khamenei and condemning the killing of protesters during the January 2026 demonstrations, he became the target of the security apparatus. Security forces reportedly raided his home and arrested him, and after months during which his family had no information about his whereabouts, it became known that the national athlete was being held in Urmia Prison. Mazaheri\u2019s case demonstrated that even international fame offers no protection from the Islamic Republic\u2019s machinery of repression. Voria Ghafouri, from Sanandaj, a prominent footballer, former captain of Esteghlal Club, and member of Iran\u2019s national team, faced extensive restrictions and deprivations because he stood alongside the people during the \u201cWoman, Life, Freedom\u201d uprising and was eventually forced to leave the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The repression of Iran\u2019s sporting community does not end with bans and imprisonment. The Islamic Republic has pushed the boundaries of brutality by shedding the blood of athletes in the streets and sending them to the gallows. During the nationwide protests of January 2026, several distinguished names from Iran\u2019s sporting community were added to the list of those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amirmohammad Karami, a young and promising member of Iran\u2019s national taekwondo team, was shot and killed in Marvdasht.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shahram Maqsoudi, a powerlifting champion and athlete, lost his life in Isfahan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shahab Fallahpour, a young wrestler from Andimeshk, was killed by direct gunfire from security forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zahra Azadpour, a 27-year-old footballer, was killed in Karaj, while her family spent days anxiously searching for her body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amirhossein Mohammadzadeh, an 18-year-old player for Delavar Afraz Tehran, was shot dead in the streets of Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, in continuation of what has been described as a policy of retaliatory executions, Saleh Mohammadi, a young Iranian wrestler and medalist, was executed after being arrested during the January 2026 protests while still in his teenage years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the conduct of Iran\u2019s women\u2019s national football team during the AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup in Australia, particularly their refusal to sing the official anthem of the Islamic Republic, once again drew international attention to the suffocating security atmosphere dominating Iranian sports. The incident reportedly contributed to several players and members of the coaching staff seeking asylum in Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These recurring tragedies have sparked international protests. Four members of the European Parliament, in an open letter to the President of FIFA, referred to the organization\u2019s human rights commitments under the United Nations Guiding Principles (adopted in 2017) and called for a clear position and practical action regarding the repression, torture, and execution of Iranian athletes. They rightly pointed out that when Iran\u2019s national team takes the field, not all of the country\u2019s real footballers are on the pitch; some are in prison under torture, some have been killed, and others are facing severe death sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking place in one of the most politically charged atmospheres in its history. For the Islamic Republic, the tournament serves as a tool for \u201cnormalizing\u201d conditions and projecting an image of stability. For many Iranians, however, it is a reminder of the absence of the real champions who sacrificed their freedom and lives for liberty. The continued silence of FIFA and international sporting institutions is viewed by critics as indirect complicity with the ruling dictatorship. The undeniable reality, they argue, is that as long as Iranian sports remain captive to religious authoritarianism, international competitions will not be a source of joy but rather a reflection of the tragedy, exclusion, and repression faced by the true champions of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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