A football fan who went missing in Iran on a walk from Spain to Qatar to watch the World Cup was arrested after visiting hijab martyr Mahsa Amini’s grave, it has emerged.

The disappearance of former paratrooper Santiago Sanchez Cogedor, 41, during the 7,000-kilometre trek, sparked concern around the world earlier this month.

Now it has emerged in reports from 25th October that Santiago is being held in a detention centre in the city of Sanandaj in Iran.

A human rights organisation named Hengaw has reportedly gathered information that proves that both Santiago and his translator were “kidnapped” by Iranian authorities.

According to the report, this occurred after they visited the grave of Mahsa Amini, 22.

Mahsa’s death sparked waves of protests across the country after she was arrested for failing to comply with Iran’s hijab laws.

Hengaw adds: “Santiago Sanchez has been detained by the forces of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence in Saqqez, Kurdistan province together with an Iranian citizen from Bandar Abbas (Sanchez’s translator).”

A second report from independent London-based Iran International confirms the arrest but says he has been moved to Tehran.

The news came after Santiago’s family made a public plea for help by asking people to come forward with information about his disappearance.

His last contact with his family was via an audio message that was sent on 2nd October, according to reports.