Since the start of the Iranian women’s revolt, the elegant attacker, a real national emblem, has multiplied the positions against the repression of the diet.
by Anthony Hernandez ( Special envoy to Qatar)
Since the start of the Iranian gathering at the World Cup, Sardar Azmoun has been discreet. Monday, November 21, the top scorer of Tim-e Melli began the meeting of group B against England on the replacement bench. When he entered the lawn of the Khalifa International Stadium, at the 76
In stoppage stops, when his shot was deviated from nothing on the crossbar, the public selected his breath. He too, certainly, because he knew that his reaction would be watched in the event of a goal. Would he celebrate his feat or would he remain of marble as a sign of support for victims of women’s rights in Iran? Before the meeting, his 11 titular teammates had chosen to remain silent during the dissemination of the anthem from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Friday, Azmoun may well be holder in a second, crucial game against Wales. And the eyes will once again be riveted on the 27 -year -old footballer.
injured in early October with his German club Bayer Leverkusen, the presence in Qatar of the attacker was uncertain until the end. Not only because of its physical form, but also – and above all – due to courageous speech on his Instagram account, in favor of women’s rights and against bloody repression in his country, which has left at least 350 dead since mid-September.
national emblem
Finally present in the list of players selected by Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, who insisted that he is there, the elegant scorer crossed as a shadow the first days of the tournament. Tim-e Melli organizes the strict minimum media, only one compulsory press conference the day before each match. Unsurprisingly, Azmoun did not participate.
Monday, in the midst of a sporting rout and a loaded political context, its entry into play gave a little balm to the heart of the many Iranian fans. Sardar Azmoun even attenuated, the space of a moment, the national divisions. The player was the only one to be praised by the minority which displayed signs of support for Iranian women.
Since the death, on September 16, of Mahsa Amini, arrested by the customs police in Tehran for not having respected the strict dress code imposed by the regime, the footballer from the Turkmene minority of the country is in the process of become a national emblem. On September 28, on his Instagram page, he first posted a photo of the women’s volleyball team from his hometown of Gonbad -E Qabus -near the border with Turkmenistan -where his sister evolves. His mother is also a renowned coach of this sport.
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