Sport

Iranwire – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization has prevented a woman referee from officiating a football match for the first time, IranWire reports.  Mahsa Ghorbani, an Iranian international football referee, was scheduled to serve as an assistant video referee (VAR) during the Tehran Derby on March 13.  However, just two days before the match, officials informed the Football Federation …

Iranwire – Intelligence officials in a remote Iranian village have denied elderly women access to a dirt field for playing football, IranWire reports. The women, residents of Amerkajla village in the northern city of Abbas Abad and aged between 50 and 60, were informed that their activity was deemed “illegal” and a “breach of norms.” The decision stems from the Islamic Republic’s …

iranintl – An Iranian Wushu champion who had previously presented all her medals to the Supreme Leader has been busted for doping, with the international federation ordering her to return the medals.  Maryam Hashemi, a proud member of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the Kurdish majority city of Kermanshah, had dedicated her world championship gold medal to Ali Khamenei in 2019 …

Iranwire – Iranian authorities have arrested 10 young people in the country’s western Kurdish regions for celebrating the national football team’s defeat to Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup semifinals, a human rights organization reported.  Hengaw said on February 19 that four of them, identified as Diako Behroojeh, Mohammad Yousefi, Hamzeh Barzgar and Mohammad Mahmoudi, were arrested over the past …

voanews.com – Iran’s football federation said Saturday it has asked world football’s governing body, FIFA, to suspend Israel’s football federation over the country’s war in Gaza. In an announcement posted on the Iranian football federation’s website, Iran asked FIFA to “completely suspend” the Israeli federation “from all activities related to football.” The request also asks for “immediate and serious measures” …

iranintl.com – Iran’s defeat to Qatar in Asian Cup 2024 soccer tournament has once again underscored the profound rift among Iranians, some of whom rejoiced over the national team’s loss. Qatar, the host of the games, beat Iran 3-2 in semi-finals in Doha on Wednesday. In the aftermath of the match, some Iranians took to the streets in cities like …

Iranwire – In a recent interview, Iranian football legend Ali Daei said he had been prohibited from engaging in any business activities in the country for the past year and a half.  Daei, a former German Bundesliga striker whose 109 goals at international level were long unsurpassed until Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him, has been a vocal supporter of the 2022-23 …

Iranwire – After the elimination of both the Palestinian and Iraqi teams from the Round of 16 of the AFC Asian Cup, Syria stands as the last geopolitical ally of the Islamic Republic in the competition.  Syria’s football squad is set to play against Iran today in Qatar at 4pm London time. The Syrian team, led by Argentinian coach Hector …

Iranwire – In the past two weeks, two senior Iranian government officials have issued explicit death and kidnapping threats against the exiled football legend Ali Karimi. Karimi left Iran in the fall of 2022 after receiving multiple threats from the authorities. During the 2022 uprising, the retired football player used his notoriety to defend the protesters who faced a bloody crackdown by security forces. And …

Iranwire – The paramilitary Basij force, in collaboration with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian football federation, plans to send over 300 of its members to Qatar during the upcoming Asian Cup football tournament, IranWire reveals. The competition will be held in Doha from January 12. Iran’s national team has been placed in Group C alongside Palestine, …