[Real news] Iran arrests footballer Ghafouri after he backed protests

Courageous Iranian soccer player is now going to prison for backing protests against his own nation's government.
He could have just shut up and dribbled. The national team players who went to Qatar did their own protest by not singing the national anthem, and they're expected to face similar consequences once returning home.

https://www.dw.com/en/iran-arrests-footballer-ghafouri-after-he-backed-protests/a-63878210

Iran arrests footballer Ghafouri after he backed protests


Why was Voria Ghafouri arrested?

According to Iranian state news agencies, Ghafouri was detained on charges of having "tarnished the reputation of the national team and spread propaganda against the state."

He was arrested after a training session with his club Foolad Khuzestan.

Ghafouri has been a vocal critic of Iranian authorities throughout his career.

Notably, the athlete has long objected a ban on women spectators at men's football matches, in addition to criticizing Tehran's foreign policy.

He recently called for an end to a crackdown on demonstrations in Iran's western Kurdistan region.

Ghafouri also expressed sympathy for the family of Jina Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old woman whose death in the custody of Iran's notorious morality police ignited the latest wave of protests.