Iran calls for World Cup star who denounced repression in the country

Iran’s national team star Sardar Azmoun, who has not played since the beginning of October due to an injury and who has repeatedly shown his support for the demonstrations in the country, is among the 25 players called up this Monday for the World Cup in Qatar.

The 27-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker suffered a strain on his right calf during the warm-up of a Champions League match against Porto, where another national team star Mehdi Taremi plays, who also appears in the list published on the Federation’s website. Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).

The coach of the Iranian national team, the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, called up 25 players, including four goalkeepers.

Azmoun showed his support, through various messages on social media, for the protests and denounced repression in Iran.

The death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who was beaten to death while in the country’s police custody for failing to wear a hijab (a veil that covers the head) in the proper manner, has sparked protests from Iranian women. Movement that gained worldwide support and found support in national team players.

Azmoun’s Instagram profile, where he has five million followers, was down for several days before being reinstated.

During the Cup, the world will closely follow the symbolic reactions of the Iranian players, who make their debut in the tournament on November 21 against England.

After the game against Wales, on the 26th, Iran will face the United States on the 29th, in a symbolic rematch of the historic 1998 game, won by the Persian team (2-1).

The protests in Iran, which are still continuing, began on September 16 over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.