The Government of Iran has ruled for the first time on the case of soccer player Amir Nasr Azadani, and has done so -through the Iranian Embassy in Colombia- to categorically deny that the soccer player has been sentenced to death for participating in the protests anti-government. The case of the player has gone around the world coinciding with the celebration of the World Cup in Qatar and many have been the voices that have asked to pressure the Asian country to stop the execution taking advantage of the media focus of the soccer event.
However, Iran denies the biggest: there is no execution yet because there has been no trial, they say. Or put another way: "False news about the death sentence of an Iranian soccer player", in the words of the aforementioned Embassy of Iran in Colombia. This is a reaction to a few words on Twitter by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who had urged Iran "not to kill" Amir Nasr Azadani. "Very good for Messi, and for the Argentine people. And that Iran does not kill football," wrote Petro.
After that, the Iranian Diplomacy office in Colombia has reacted, criticizing a "hybrid war" in which "the fake news campaign" continues. "The trial has not yet taken place. Therefore, the news of the death penalty is a pure lie," said the Embassy, which explained that Azadani is the fifth defendant in a criminal case for allegedly belonging to a group gun that would have killed three police officers and security agents with automatic weapons.
Despite these words, the International Federation of Associations of Professional Soccer Players (FIFPRO) confirmed last Tuesday that the Iranian soccer player had been sentenced to death for supporting the protests. "FIFPRO is shocked and disgusted by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women's rights and basic freedoms in his country. We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of their punishment," the union said in a statement.
Whichever version is most accurate, the only thing that has already been confirmed is that the 26-year-old footballer for the Rah-Ahan, Tractor and Gol-e Rayhan teams was charged and found guilty by the regime. Iran for a crime called 'moharebeh', that is, 'enmity with God'. This crime entails execution by hanging, a penalty already suffered by the young Mohsen Shekari and the wrestler Majid Reza Rahnavard, hanged in public in Mashad on the same charges as Amir Nasr-Azadani, after an unfair trial.
