Death Sentence for Iranian Footballer for Supporting Anti-Hijab Movement

While Football World Cup is underway in Qatar, shocking news for football has come from Iran. An Iranian footballer named Amir Nasr-Azadani is reportedly sentenced to execution because of his women’s rights campaigns.

This death sentence for a footballer has been condemned by many including FIFPro, the worldwide representative organisation for 65,000 professional footballers.

According to The Telegraph, Nasr-Azadani has been campaigning for women’s rights in the country, and as a punishment, he has been sentenced to execution.

In a tweet criticising the order, FIFPro took to Twitter and wrote: “FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution 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.”

FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution 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. pic.twitter.com/vPuylCS2ph

— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) December 12, 2022

Nasr-Azadani played in the Persian Gulf Pro League side Tractor between 2016 and 2018.

Men’s national football team of Iran protested against the Iranian government in their first match at the FIFA World Cup 2022 by staying silent during their nation’s national anthem.