Sport

Iranwire – Media outlets in Iran have reported that the historic Azadi Stadium will remain completely unusable for the upcoming football season. Neither Esteghlal nor Persepolis, two of Asia’s most popular clubs, nor the Iranian national team will be permitted to host matches at the venue. With Takhti Stadium in eastern Tehran and Dastgerdi Stadium in western Tehran also deemed …

iranintl – Canada’s Official Opposition has accused the government of bypassing its own rules after Iran International reported that an IRGC-linked Iranian football official was granted special permission to enter the country despite being inadmissible. Iran International’s reporting was followed by political backlash in Ottawa, international coverage and Mehdi Taj being turned back within hours of landing in Canada. Speaking …

Iranwire – According to Iranian media reports, the Islamic Republic’s judicial authorities have ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to more than 400 figures labeled as “supporters of the enemy.” Among the names on this list are three prominent figures from Iranian football. While former national team player Ali Karimi currently resides in the United States, the other two athletes …

Iranwire – “The issue of holding the matches in a centralized format, which was proposed in the middle of the war, had a small technical dimension and a large political one. The IRGC wanted to show it had the capability to run the country under wartime conditions, even for football competitions. Now, I doubt that even if attacks resume, the …

Iranwire – An informed source told IranWire that on Monday, March 9, at the same time that reports emerged about five members of Iran’s women’s national football team seeking asylum in Australia, a discreet operation was launched by the “IRGC Intelligence Organization” together with the “Ministry of Sport and Youth” to bring the players back to Iran. According to the …

iranintl – Members of Iran’s national women’s football team were closely monitored by security officials linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during their stay in Australia, but several managed a dramatic escape from their hotel to seek asylum. Despite the pressure, at least seven players managed to escape and seek safety in Australia following a series of events …

Iranwire – A source familiar with the situation told IranWire that security agencies have pressured the players and coaching staff of Iran’s Women’s National Football Team after their match against South Korea by threatening their families. According to the source, tensions escalated after the Women’s Asian Cup match between Iran and South Korea, when several players and coaches declined to …

iranintl – Iranian Olympic skier Atefeh Ahmadi, who applied for asylum in Germany in 2023 after leaving Iran during a training trip to Europe, has returned to the country and publicly expressed gratitude to the Supreme Leader for facilitating her homecoming. The sudden reversal and the stilted language of the announcement of her return in an Instagram post led to …

iranwire – Iranian authorities arrested two organizers of the Kish Island marathon over dress code violations by participants, state media reported. The arrests took place one day after more than 5,000 male and female runners competed on Friday in the marathon on the Persian Gulf island. More than 25,000 tourists visited the island for the event, which featured 15, 5, …

RFL/RE – The Iranian judiciary on December 6 said it had arrested two organizers of a marathon after some women competed in the event without wearing the mandatory hijab, the Islamic headscarf that covers the head and neck. “Despite previous warnings regarding the need to comply with the country’s current laws and regulations, as well as religious, customary, and professional …