Iranian footballer, Amir Nasr-Azadani, is facing ex£c¥tion for supporting women’s rights protests in the country.
The international players union (FIFPro) confirmed this in a statement on Monday, December 12.
“FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces ex£c¥tion in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country.
We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment,” the statement read.
IranWire reports that the 26-year-old, who most recently played for Tractor in the Persian Gulf Pro League, has been accused of ‘moharebeh’, or ‘animosity with God’.
Adding that the player’s family have been thr£atened repeatedly by the Iranian authorities.
Anti-government protests have been widespread in Iran since the de@th of 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly detained for failing to adhere to the country’s dress code for women.
IranWire suggest that the Iranian government may be trying to frame Nasr-Azdani for the de@th of Colonel Esmaeil Cheraghi and two members of Basij, the government militia, during protests on 17 November.
It has been reported that the footballer’s part in the protests was limited to chanting and he was not near the place where the de@ths happened.
