Iranian authorities on Saturday arrested several football players attending a mixed party in eastern Tehran, according to local media. “Footballers, as well as former players of one of the main football clubs in Tehran were arrested last night (Editor’s note: Saturday) during a mixed party in the city of Damavand”, reports the Tasnim agency, without further details on the identity of these players or their club. “Some of these players were not in a normal state after consuming alcohol,” adds the same source. According to Iranian law, the consumption and sale of alcohol is prohibited.
Iran is rocked by protests sparked by the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who died after she was arrested by vice squad for violating the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code. Since the beginning of this protest movement, several Iranian footballers have been arrested or worried by the authorities for having supported the demonstrations.
Iranian football legend Ali Daei (former world record holder for the number of goals in selection), who supported the protest movement, accused Tehran of having diverted a flight carrying his wife and daughter to Dubai on Monday December 26. State media confirmed that Ali Daei’s family had no right to leave the country, due to their “association” with anti-government groups. “Ali Daei’s wife had undertaken to inform the authorities if she wished to leave the country, because of her relations with groups hostile to the Islamic revolution and the rioters”, says the agency IRNA, citing justice .