Secret agents stalk ‘brave’ Iranian players from the sidelines at World Cup

Iran players are under intense pressure as they go into their second World Cup group game against the USA amid a backdrop of unrest in their homeland (Picture: Getty)

Iranian footballers are under surveillance from secret agents who have been sent out to the World Cup to watch their movements from the sidelines, according to a prominent human rights activist. 

Maziar Bahari said players face repercussions for shows of dissent amid a harsh crackdown on the anti-government protests in their homeland. 

The campaigner and editor expressed his admiration for the ‘brave’ players in their silence during the national anthem before the side’s opening game against England, which they lost 6-2.  

He said the domestic players — being carefully monitored from the stands and sidelines in Qatar — face sanctions which could include the end of their club careers and possible arrest on home soil. 

He spoke after Metro.co.uk highlighted the case of an Iranian photographer who was due to pursue his ‘dream’ of covering a World Cup but was arrested at his home and has not been heard of since. 

Arya Jafari is thought to have been detained as the hardline clerical regime tries to suppress all news and images of the unprecedented protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.  

Mr Bahari, founder of the Journalism is Not a Crime human rights group, said: ‘It was a very brave act by the players not to sing the Islamic Republic’s anthem, and we have to understand their situation. 

‘Many of them are people from poor or working class backgrounds who have reached this level of success through hard work.

Iran’s players were silent during the national anthem before their World Cup game with England (Picture: Marko Djurica/Reuters)

‘From what we know, many security agents have accompanied the team to Qatar, including as spectators and as part of the team. 

‘They can easily send reports to their masters in Tehran, so the players can be arrested if they go back to Iran.

‘Some of the football clubs are run by Revolutionary Guard commanders so they can decide not to renew or cancel a player’s contract. They can also easily create a situation where a player ends up in jail.  

‘There is at least one former football player who was outspoken in support of the protestors who is in prison now.

‘The head of the Iranian Football Association, Mehdi Taj, is a former Revolutionary Guard commander, so the players and the manager, Carlos Queiroz, will be under a lot of pressure to stay away from politics.

‘At the same time, the players are seeing their friends and relatives killed across Iran, so it is not easy for them to put politics aside and just concentrate on playing football.’

Arya Jafari has been arrested amid a wave of protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini (Picture: Journalism is Not a Crime)

Mr Jafari, who was looking forward to his ‘dream’ of covering a World Cup before being arrested at his home in central Iran, is among journalists who appear to have been swept up in the crackdown.

It is thought the former Iran national kayaker has been imprisoned to stop pictures of the protests triggered by the 22-year-old’s death in September from being released and shared internationally.   

Mr Bahari, who lives in London and is also editor of the IranWire news website, believes the 34-year-old is one of 60 professional journalists who have been arrested in Iran amid the unrest.

‘Many of the journalists in Iran who were going to Qatar to cover the World Cup have decided to stay away because of the intimidation and the security issues that the government has created,’ he said.

‘Professional and citizen journalists alike are in a very precarious situation as to what might happen if they write something or take a photograph that the government doesn’t like. 

‘For example, if they take a photo of the Iranian fans with one person holding a protest sign, they could end up in jail, like Arya. 

‘Every sports journalist in Iran and around the world dreams of going to the World Cup, but the situation has changed since the start of the protests.’ 

Ms Amini’s death after being detained by the morality police for wearing her hijab too loosely sparked protests across the country, with many women joining rallies despite an often violent response from the police.

The silence during the national anthem followed Bayer Leverkusen striker Sardar Azmoun joining the outcry.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘At worst I’ll be dismissed from the national team. 

‘No problem. I’d sacrifice that for one hair on the heads of Iranian women. This story will not be deleted. 

‘They can do whatever they want. Shame on you for killing so easily; long live Iranian women.’    

Mahsa Amini died after being detained by Iran’s morality police for not wearing a hijab correctly (Picture: Newsflash)

The Iranian FA had forbidden players from speaking out over Ms Amini’s death and manager Carlos Queiroz was said to have been under pressure to remove the key player from the squad.  

Azmoun, nicknamed the Iranian Messi, nevertheless travelled to Qatar and made an appearance against England from the bench. 

Team captain Ehsan Hajsafi, who plays for AEK Athens, made another show of defiance before the game, albeit using more measured language.

‘We have to accept that conditions in our country are not right and our people are not happy,’ he said. ‘We are here but it does not mean we should not be their voice or we must not respect them.’

After the match, protestors in Tehran were filmed celebrating the Three Lions’ victory and chanting ‘death to the dictator!’ in footage sourced by the Middle East Research Institute.

The team will now be under intense scrutiny for further shows of dissent as they prepare to face the USA — which Iranian leaders have dubbed The Great Satan — in their second Group B qualifier on Monday. 

Nine of the 25-man squad play in their homeland, where more than 300 people have been killed by Tehran’s security forces during the unrest, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organisation.

‘In Iran, there is a great deal of suffering and a lack of security, because people can be arrested at any time,’ Mr Bahari said. 

Iran supporters wave a national flag bearing the words ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ during the World Cup clash against England (Picture: Fadel Senna/AFP)

‘Even those not involved with the protests can be arrested because of suspicion in their neighbourhood or an accusation from someone who doesn’t like them. Because the movement is leaderless the government is trying to intimidate as many people as possible. 

‘I am sure there will be sham trials very soon, and we are hearing about 15 death sentences against protestors. 

‘It’s a very insecure situation for all 85 million Iranians.’

At the same time, the footballers for Team Melli, as the national side is known, have faced fierce criticism and death threats for not visibly siding with the anti-government protestors. 

A contingent of 11 players who met Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in a farewell ceremony before the World Cup have received much of the flak. 

Saman Javadi, who runs social media channels dedicated to the Iranian football team, told Metro.co.uk that the number of agents who would usually travel to a major sporting event will have been stepped up for the team’s own protection. 

Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of Mahsa Amini while she was detained by the morality police (Picture obtained by AP outside Iran)

‘There is no doubt the Football Federation of Iran counts on added security agents since the players have received death threats,’ he said. 

‘Just think of Mehdi Torabi and Vahid Amiri, whose pictures were posted on social media with red X marks on their faces because they did not wear a black armband during a domestic game following the death of Mahsa Amini. In addition, they were the only two players to sing the Iranian anthem in Tehran before a friendly with Nicaragua in November. The other players who met president Raisi have also been targeted and threatened.’

Iran’s players will now be under intense scrutiny as they line up against the USA at the Al Thumama Stadium on Monday night. 

‘What is happening to the Iranian national team symbolises what is happening to Iran,’ Mr Bahari said.  

‘This is a team that can do much better than what they did against England but it is managed by Revolutionary Guards and is mismanaged with not many games to prepare for the World Cup.   

‘As an Iranian, it makes me sad to see my national team performing like this.

‘If they manage any success against Wales and the USA it will be down to the bravery and hard work of the players themselves’.

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Iranian footballers have been praised for their bravery as they face possible repercussions for showing dissent to the regime.