World union ‘shocked’ as Iranian soccer player may face death sentence over protests

The world union of professional soccer players FIFPRO says it is “shocked and sickened” by the risk of Iranian soccer player Amir Nasr-Azadani being sentenced to death in connection with protests which have shaken the country for three months.

Nasr-Azadani was arrested in the city of Isfahan two days after allegedly taking part in an “armed riot” in which three security agents were killed on September 16, Isfahan’s judiciary chief Abdullah Jafari has said, quoted by Iran’s ISNA news agency.

Jafari says the 26-year-old had been accused of “rebellion, membership in illegal gangs, collusion to undermine security” and therefore assisting in “enmity against God” — a capital crime in the Islamic Republic.

“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,” the union writes on its Twitter page.