Footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani of Iran is facing execution in his country for “campaigning for women’s rights”, it has been reported.
FIFAPRO, the global representative organisation for professional footballers, said it was “shocked and sickened” by the reports on its Twitter page and called for the decision to be revoked.
“FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country,” it said.
“We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment.”
There has been massive protests across Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died in police custody, after she was arrested for not wearing a hijab.
The police has been accused of brutally beating her.
At the ongoing FIFA World Cup, Iran’s national team chose not to sing the country’s national anthem as a protest during the group stage matches.
Previously, former player Voria Ghafouri was arrested for “spreading propaganda against the Islamic republic and seeking to undermine the national World Cup team”.
Another footballer named Parviz Boroumand was also arrested after attending protests in Tehran.
However, the duo were released before Iran played the United States in the World Cup.
Nasr-Azadani played for Rah Ahan and Tractor from 2015 to 2018 and spent his youth career at a club called Sepahan from 2012 to 2015.
Iran hanged 23-year-old Majidreza Rahnavard on Monday in Mashhad.
Rahnavard was convicted of “enmity against God”.
They also said he stabbed to death two members of the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force.
The state and the Iranian Government has described the protests as “riots”.
