Iran’s Soccer Legend, Whose World Record Was Broken by Cristiano Ronaldo, Stopped From Leaving Country Over Support for Protests

Soccer fans know Ali Daei for his long-standing record of most international soccer goals until Cristiano Ronaldo broke it last year. Recently, the Iranian soccer legend was involved with Iranian authorities for his vocal support of the ongoing protests going on in the country. The government has now banned the soccer star from leaving the country, and hence he won’t be able to attend FIFA The Best ceremony at the end of this month.

The protests in Iran started when 22-year-old Masha Amini lost her life in police custody over a dress code row. Iran’s soccer team was also part of the protests, as they refused to sing the national anthem before the game against England in the Qatar FIFA World Cup. However, they were forced to sing the national anthem in the next two games, drawing emotional reactions from the fans.

Soccer legend Ali Daei can’t leave Iran

Daei held the record for the most international goals (109) until Ronaldo broke it and cannot leave the country. Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency has confirmed the news that Iran banned Daei from leaving the country. FIFA invited the former Bayern Munich player to attend FIFA’s The Best awards ceremony in Switzerland on February 27. However, because of his ban, he can’t leave the country.

Daei has been a vocal supporter of the protests. He also rejected the invitation from FIFA last year to attend the Qatar World Cup. He wanted to stay with the people of Iran and support them in their protests against the Government of Iran. Daei declared it on his Instagram just before the start of the World Cup.

“In these days when most of us are not feeling well, I answered no to the official invitation of Fifa and the Qatar Football Federation to attend the World Cup with my wife and daughters, to be with you in my homeland and express my sympathy,” wrote the soccer legend in his post.

Authorities stopped Daei’s family from leaving the country

The former Iranian soccer star said in December that authorities stopped his wife and daughter from leaving the country. Their flight from Tehran to Dubai was rerouted, and authorities ordered them to get off the flight. 

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Daei’s passport is in the custody of the Iranian authorities. If there’s no solution, he won’t be able to attend the FIFA ceremony on February 27. Ali Daei is not the only soccer star under the radar of authorities for supporting the protests. Iranian professional soccer player Amir Nasr-Azadani is in prison and will spend 16 years there. Ali Karimi, former Iran soccer team captain, is also under the radar of the authorities for his social media posts.

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What do you make of Ali Daei’s situation? Share your thoughts in comments.