Reports indicate that striker Sardar Azmoun's social media post led to his expulsion, impacting Iran's football squad amid preparations for international matches.
Iranian media reported that Sardar Azmoun, a key forward for the Iran national football team, has been expelled for an act of disloyalty. The incident stems from an Instagram post where Azmoun appeared with Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Azmoun, who plays club football for UAE's Shabab Al-Ahli, has a strong record with the national team, scoring 57 goals in 91 international appearances since his debut in 2014.
Reasons for Expulsion
The Fars News Agency, linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited an informed source within the national team confirming Azmoun's removal. Azmoun later deleted the photos, but faced criticism on state television.
Football pundit Mohammad Misaghi lambasted Azmoun on state TV, stating that his actions showed a lack of sense and made him unworthy of the national jersey. Misaghi emphasized that national team players should proudly represent Iran.
This expulsion occurs as Iran prepares for friendly internationals against Nigeria on March 27 and Costa Rica on March 31 in Antalya, Turkey. Iran's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, may be affected by such internal issues.
Azmoun, 31 years old, has played his entire club career abroad, including stints at Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and Roma, and represented Iran in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. An unsourced report mentioned potential asset seizures for Azmoun and other players, but no official confirmation was provided by the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In related context, Iranian state TV also criticized members of the women's national team for not singing the national anthem during a match, with seven seeking asylum in Australia, though five returned to Iran.
