Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has instructed the country's sports minister to lift the ban on football legend Ali Daei, the Etemad newspaper, which is closely aligned with the presidential office, reported on Tuesday.
This move clears the way for Daei to return to football, a decision seen by many as an attempt to quell political unrest in the country. The former national team captain, who is highly revered in Iran, was banned from football-related activities by authorities after publicly supporting the mass protests that erupted in September 2022. The protests, which were ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini—an Iranian Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress codes—saw widespread participation, including from many prominent figures such as Daei.
Daei’s popularity among the masses surged during the uprising, with many seeing him as a symbol of resistance against the government’s oppressive policies. His support for the protests, including his public calls for justice for Amini, made him a hero to many, particularly in the context of his status as a national sports icon. Despite the government's decision to lift the ban, Daei has firmly refused to engage in any football activities under the current circumstances.
The football federation in Iran, often criticized for its ties to the government and its politicized nature, is seen by many as heavily influenced by the country's ruling elite, including leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This connection has prompted Daei to reject any involvement in football administration as long as the federation remains under the control of those who enforce the government’s political agenda. In earlier statements, Daei made it clear that he would not participate in football activities unless the circumstances in Iran change and the sport is allowed to function independently of political pressures.
Despite Daei's reluctance to return to the field or take on any official roles in the current climate, his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time remains unquestioned. He played in Germany from 1997 to 2002, representing clubs like Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, and Hertha Berlin, and is the most-capped player in Iranian football history, with 149 international appearances until Javad Nekounam over took him. His goal-scoring achievements are also remarkable—Daei is the third-highest scorer in international football with 109 goals, behind only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
The decision to lift Daei's ban is widely regarded as a gesture to ease tensions within the country, but it also underscores the ongoing political and social struggles within Iranian football, where figures like Daei, who are seen as independent of government influence, remain at odds with the politicized sports institutions.
Karimi, a household name in Iran and a much-loved figure has been active n social media. The former Persepolis and Bayern Munich player has 12.2m Followers and his voice has been effective, leading the authorities to attempt to arrest him and confiscate his house unlawfully.
The protest does not stop at a former Team Melli icon like Ali Karimi as the current squad has many who sympathize with the people and mourn Mahsa Amini. Sardar Azmoun, the Team Melli current top scorer who plays for Bayer Leverkusen, after the goal celebration against Senegal on Tuesday was one of the saddest witnessed in the history of Team Melli.
Sardar Azmoun, despite the security apparatus ringing Team Melli in the Austrian camp, and everywhere outside Iran for that matter, managed to utter a few words that highlighted his status as a sympathizer for the people against the regime.
The situation gets more complicated if we contemplate that there are players in the squad who are regime agents. This has been a known fact in Team Melli since the 1980s. Some players are recruited by the security apparatus for spying on others and get rewarded for it. Football is not the only game in Team Melli as politics is deep-rooted.
It is clear that Team, Melli is split between three different factions. Dragan Skocic’s case was indicative of these differences with Azmoun and Taremi taking different views on the subject. It is a known fact that Taremi was the instigator and he pushed Jahanbakhsh and Hajsafi to meet the Iranian Minister of Sports while Team Melli was in camp in Doha to demand the removal of Skocic who guided Iran to the World Cup in what looked like Mission Impossible!. The government obliged and pushed for their man Mehdi Taj to be elected as head of the FFIRI with the main agenda item being the return of Queiroz.
No one in his right mind would think that Queiroz got the job on merits. His failure with Egypt and Colombia would relegate him to the third division of the top coach’s league plus the fact that he failed in two World Cups with Iran and two AFC Asian cups. Unknown to him, the Portuguese coach is the main beneficiary in the Iranian politics that could be threatening Team Melli which is ready for combustion in the struggle of the political factions.
These differences are directly related to the status of mass protests in the streets of Iranian cities. If the situation becomes calmer. The Team Melli camp tension will reduce, if things get worst in Iran, then there is a serious risk of disintegration or at least its weakening as a result of the loss of key players.
Sayyadmanesh guides his team through difficult moments, such as his two European winning goals against Leicester City and CSKA Sofia. As a result, the club and its fans are hugely disappointed that Sayyadmanesh will return to Fenerbahce at the end of the contract at the end of December
