by Since Iran plays in the World Cup 2022 in Qatara former member of the national football team, was arrested for criticizing the Iranian government.
Voria Ghafouri who was not selected as a member Iran’s 2022 World Cup teamAccording to the Associated Press, he was arrested on Thursday for “insulting the national football team and propaganda against the government.”
Esteghlal’s defender Voria Ghafouri, right, is tagged by Ahli’s striker Abdulrahman Ghareeb, left, during the AFC Champions League Group C match between Saudi’s Al-Ahli and Iran’s Esteghlal at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on April 27, 2021 in the Saudi city from Jeddah.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Ghafouri recently expressed his support for the family of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of the Iranian authorities.
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her death has sparked nationwide protests calls for the end of the government of the Islamic Republic.
Ghafouri’s arrest came a day before Iran celebrated their first win of the 2022 World Cup by beating Wales 2-0.
Voria Ghafouri, then a player of Iran national soccer team, right, fights for the ball with Iraqi midfielder Hussein Ali during their AFC Asian Cup soccer match at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 16, 2019. The semi-official Fars and news agencies Tasnim reported on Thursday, November 24, 2022 that Iran had arrested Ghafouri, a prominent former member of its national soccer team, for insulting the national soccer team currently playing at the World Cup and as criticizing the government Authorities are grappling with nationwide protests.
(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, file)
In your Opening game against England – a 6-2 defeat – Iranian players did not sing the country’s national anthem, apparently to show their support for the protesters.
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The national team sang the national anthem on Friday and crossed their arms before the game.
Iran scored twice in added time and shocked Wales with goals in the 98th and 101st minutes.
Iran’s players celebrate winning their World Cup Group B soccer match against Wales on Friday, November 25, 2022 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
“We’re disappointed, there’s no other way to put it,” Wales captain Gareth Bale told the BBC after the game. “We fought until the last second and we have to do it again.
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“We’re all devastated but we have to get back up straight away. It’s going to be difficult for us. We’ll have to see.”
Iran now have three points in Group B and are looking to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
