Since Serdar Azmun left Zenit, things have not been the best for him. The Iranian striker almost never plays for Bayer Leverkusen and this season he has scored only two assists in the German Cup. However, for his national team, Azmoun is still the most important player. On the eve of the World Cup, they count on him very much.

However, the former Zenit player may soon be expelled from the national team. Serdar allowed himself an act that could easily turn him into an outcast in his homeland.

He went against the state!

“I can’t be silent”

Large-scale protests have been held in Iran since mid-September. All because of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly tortured to death by the vice police for wearing the wrong hijab. Now women across the country are taking to the streets and demanding freedom. In some places, resistance takes on aggressive forms. Of course, law enforcement agencies respond symmetrically.

Photo: © Getty Images / Stringer / Getty Images News / Gettyimages.ru

Many public figures and representatives of culture in Iran have already supported the protest. And the day before, Azmun unexpectedly joined the ranks of the dissatisfied. Nobody expected this from the leader of the national team. It looks like Serdar is ready for the most serious consequences.

We are not allowed to say anything according to the rules. But I can no longer be silent. If I am kicked out of the national team, this is a sacrifice that I am ready to make for the sake of the women of Iran. This post will not be deleted under any circumstances. Shame on you for the ease with which you kill people! Long live the women of Iran! — wrote the striker in social networks.

It is not yet known what measures the leadership of the Iranian national team will take regarding Azmoun. With the current heat of passion, expulsion from the national team would be the lesser of two evils. However, the police may well take up the football player. And then Serdar, most likely, will lose not only his place in the national team, but also the opportunity to visit his homeland.

Once, Azmoun had already been forgiven for “obscene” behavior. In 2020, the then Zenit forward depicted sexual intercourse in the locker room with Artyom Dziuba. The scene was caught on video and made its way to Iran. The local community then reacted quite calmly, and the incident was quickly hushed up. Although, if Serdar had done something similar in his country, he would have been provided with corporal punishment.

Photo: © FC Zenit

football resistance

On the one hand, Azmun’s performance turned out to be unexpected. But in general, football and the struggle for women’s rights in Iran are very closely connected. In 2019, 29-year-old Sahar Khodayari set herself on fire in front of the courthouse where she was to be sentenced. The girl was accused of trying to enter the match of her favorite team under the guise of a man, since women are not allowed to attend football.

Another high-profile scandal happened in March of this year. More than 2,000 women were not allowed to attend the Iran-Lebanon meeting. The official position of the authorities was that they allegedly bought counterfeit tickets. However, FIFA and international human rights organizations did not believe this explanation. There were even rumors that Iran could be removed from the World Cup if football equality was not ensured in the country. So far, it has not been possible to put female attendance on stream – excesses happen from time to time.

Photo: © NurPhoto / Contributor / NurPhoto / Gettyimages.ru

By the way, Azmun scored a goal in that match. Now the striker is in a very difficult situation. However, nothing depends on him – he did his job. The next move is up to the Iranian authorities and the leadership of the national team. Two months before the World Cup, they will have to answer the question – what is more important: the presence of great players in the national team or its ideological purity?