Iranian Footballer Kicked Off National Team Over Alleged Disloyalty

Iranian Footballer Sardar Azmoun Expelled from National Team

Sardar Azmoun, a prominent Iranian football player, has been expelled from the national team following an Instagram post that featured Dubai’s ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, which are co-hosting the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

A report by Fars News Agency stated that Azmoun had been removed from the squad due to his actions. However, details of the incident remain unclear. Azmoun later deleted the post but was still criticized on state television for what football pundit Mohammad Misaghi described as an act of disloyalty.

The Iranian authorities have not commented on the matter. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has also not responded to a request for comment. Azmoun, 31, is one of Iran’s most well-known footballers and has played for several clubs, including Zenit Saint Petersburg and Bayer Leverkusen.

The expulsion of Azmoun from the national team raises concerns about the impact on Iran’s participation in the FIFA World Cup. The country’s men’s team are scheduled to play friendly internationals in Turkey before the tournament. Meanwhile, an unsourced report has suggested that orders have been issued for the seizure of assets belonging to Azmoun and other UAE-based national team players.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and its regional neighbors, particularly the United Arab Emirates. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Iran’s women’s national team was criticized on state television for not singing the national anthem before a Women’s Asian Cup match in Australia.

Source: Al Jazeera