In mid-October, exactly one month before the start of the final episode of the World Cup, which will be hosted by Qatar this year, the world media received a letter from Iranian football players and officials to FIFA, which immediately had the effect of a tsunami. . The signatories demand that the International Football Federation impose harsh sanctions on the Iranian Football Federation, including the deprivation of this country’s national team from participating in the 2022 World Cup.

It is noteworthy that the letter was signed by some very influential people, together with ordinary officials, so to speak, from an average hand. Among them is Ali Daei, the absolute legend of Iranian football of all time. History of the Iranian national team) as part of the Iranian national team.

Ali Daei is a person for Iranian football on an almost cosmic scale. He played in two world championships (in 1998 and 2006), was recognized as the best football player in Asia (in 1999) and also played for Bayern Munich (in the 1998/99 season, memorable for Dynamo Kyiv fans. The Germans later overall Champions They stopped on the way to the league final – 3:3, 1:0).

Getty images. Ali Daei

In Iran, Daei has almost always been considered a cult figure for the popularization of sports in general and football in particular. But now the great Ali has suddenly appeared in the face of what he had been fighting on the field for so long as a football player. Daei, along with many other famous figures, asks FIFA to immediately suspend the Iranian Football Federation from membership in this organization, and then remove the national team from the participants in the final part of the 2022 World Cup.

Why does Daei, who previously gave all his strength for Iranian football to reach its maximum level, now wants to deprive his compatriots of the chance to play in the world championship? It’s all about the murderous violence of the current Iranian authorities against their citizens, particularly to suppress the feminist demonstrations provoked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 13. Before she fell into a coma and died in the hospital, this girl was beaten and arrested by the so-called “deputy police” for allegedly violating the national “women’s dress code”, despite wearing a headscarf with part of Amini’s hair. It appears to be illegal in Iran.

“The situation of women in Iran is extremely distasteful in the broader political and socio-economic context. Unfortunately, the same vices and injustices continue in the football field, which means that football, which should be a safe place for everyone, is not for women and sometimes for men. By Iranian footballers and officials against FIFA, which was made public thanks to Masih Alinejad, a journalist and activist living in exile in the USA and working from New York.

Activists believe that the Iranian Football Federation can no longer be a member of FIFA and can not be considered an independent organization, because under the influence of the country’s government it prohibits women from visiting stadiums during matches. According to the statute of the International Football Federation, all its members must enjoy full freedom in their home country. Any interference by public authorities in the functioning of national federations or associations is a violation that may result in sanctions.

The signatories realize that FIFA often avoids situations where it is necessary to take a clear stand on political issues. Even if Russia had removed its national team from participating in the struggles under its auspices, FIFA at its Congress in March did not see at least the suspension of membership of the Russian Football Union (RFU) as a sanction for the war launched by that state. and not provoked by anything against Ukraine. Also, the head of the organization, Gianni Infantino, said in the spring quite cynically that “removing the RFU from FIFA is not an option” because otherwise “it would be better if we stop our activities and go home”.

Against this, Daei and other signatories of the anti-Iran declaration also found their own comments and arguments stated in the appeal: “We believe that FIFA should choose a side. Neutrality is not an option as the Iranian federation is not neutral and is mobilizing to oppress and systematically exclude women from the football world.”

At least 120 people, 25 of whom were minors, have died since the protests began in Iran, according to information released by human rights organizations in mid-October. Many do not want to put up with it, and so the decision of Iranian celebrities with worldwide authority to fight for the rights of their people only creates a sense of respect.

It should be said that 53-year-old Ali Daei is already facing the first signs of personal pressure. In particular, recently, it became known that the border guards, after coming home from Turkey, confiscated the passport of the legend of Iranian football, therefore, Daei could not legally leave the state. In addition, the social networks of the former Bayern forward have been regularly attacked by several radical elements, who are trying to defend the official view that Tehran’s 22-year-old Mahsa Amini allegedly has a congenital heart disease and does. to die not from the bullying of the authorities, but from a sudden stroke.

But so far, no intimidation or pressure has helped the Iranian authorities in their fight against those who stand for equality and freedom. Daei directly asks the question on social networks: “There will come a time when you have to answer, what have you brought into this world? My daughter asks what happened, but what should I tell her? For what sins does this happen?

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Daei’s position has been supported by 30-year-old Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, one of the current leaders of the Iranian national team, and he said he was “ashamed to watch some videos, particularly those that show abuse and violence against women”. And against Taremi, at least so far the authorities have done nothing. Perhaps they are afraid that at the World Cup, if their national team is still not kicked out from there, there will be no one to defend at least one honor of the “Persian leopards” …

Recall that the World Cup in Qatar will be the first tournament of this size in history to be held in the Middle East. If Iran is still allowed to participate, it will be sixth for that country after the 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018 championships. The Persian Leopards had not previously moved from the group to the playoff stage.