A rights advocacy group has accused Iranian authorities of targeting and killing footballers as the country prepares for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, urging world football’s governing body to intervene urgently.
The group claims several players and sports officials have been killed or detained in recent months, raising fears for athletes linked to protests and dissent. Particular concern surrounds two players currently in detention who reportedly face the death penalty, including a teenage striker with a top-flight club and a former professional banned from playing.
The News Chronicle understands that these cases have sparked alarm within Iran’s football community, with campaigners warning that young athletes are increasingly vulnerable amid heightened political repression. Sports researchers and former internationals say repeated appeals have been sent to FIFA and players’ unions, calling for pressure on Tehran to halt executions, arrests and intimidation linked to sport.
Beyond the two detained players, reports indicate that a 17-year-old youth footballer was shot dead in Tehran earlier this year, while a women’s football assistant referee and a beach soccer goalkeeper are also among those killed. A national under-23 team coach is said to be missing after his passport was revoked on arrival in Iran.
Several former Iranian internationals have publicly condemned the situation, insisting that football bodies cannot remain silent when athletes face threats to their lives. The allegations come against the backdrop of widespread anti-government protests that erupted last year, with human rights groups estimating thousands of deaths during the unrest.
