- Azmoun draws criticisms for taking pictures with war ‘enemy’
One of Iran’s top football players, Sardar Azmoun, has been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government, Iranian media reported on Thursday.
Reports indicated that Azmoun, who plays his club football in the United Arab Emirates for Shabab Al-Ahli, upset the Iranian authorities this week by posting a picture on his Instagram feed of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The report on the Fars News Agency, which has links to Iran’s hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited “an informed source within the national team” as saying that Azmoun, 31, had been expelled from the squad.
With the latest development, pundits are already hinting that it is unlikely that Azmoun would eventually play any part in the country’s 2026 World Cup squad. This is as Iran’s participation in the World Cup as a whole remains uncertain because of the ongoing conflict with the United States, who are co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Mexico and Canada.
However, if the Iranian National side, (aka Team Melli) do turn up for their opening-round group matches, they will undoubtedly be weakened by the absence of striker Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 internationals since making his debut as a teenager in 2014.
The player’s association with the Dubai’s ruler comes on the heels of heightened tension with Iran launching rocket and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following air strikes by the United States and Israel, which killed the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Azmoun Takes Down Pictures
Amid the backlash, Azmoun later removed the pictures but was still lambasted on state TV on Thursday with football pundit Mohammad Misaghi describing the striker’s actions as an an act of disloyalty.
Misaghi said: “It’s unfortunate that you don’t have enough sense to understand what kind of behaviour is appropriate at a given time. We should not mince words with such people. They should be told that they are not worthy of wearing the national team jersey.
“We have no patience for this sulking and childish behaviour. National team players should be people who proudly belt out the national anthem and deserve to wear the Iran jersey.”
Earlier this week, the country’s women’s football team returned to Iran after seven members of the delegation had sought asylum in Australia last week. However, five of the players later changed their minds, including captain Zahra Ghanbari.
