Soldiers in Iran have allegedly seized the country’s entire men’s beach football team after their show of solidarity with anti-regime protesters.
The athletes were allegedly taken away against their will to an unknown location by more than 15 men in uniform after landing in Iran from the United Arab Emirates on 7th November.
Media representatives and the athletes’ families were banned from entering the arrivals hall at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, foreign-based opposition media reported.
Officials from Iran’s Ministry of Sport and Youth – including Vahid Yaminpour and Sina Kalhor – took to social media to threaten Iran’s Football Federation over the players’ recent behaviour.
The athletes are accused of having shown solidarity with anti-regime protesters during the recent Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup in Dubai.
They had failed to sing the national anthem ahead of their clash with the UAE in the semi-finals and had also refused to celebrate after beating Brazil in the final.
During the final, striker Saeed Piramoun had also mimicked an anti-regime hair-cutting gesture after scoring a goal.
Iran’s Football Federation claimed the players had contravened FIFA rules by staging a “political act” and announced on 7th November that it would be taking action against them.
