Iranian soccer star faces execution after World Cup

An Iranian soccer player will be hanged for protesting Mahsa Amini’s death.

In November, an arrest warrant was issued for 26-year-old Amir Nasr-Azadani for the murders of a police colonel and two militia members.

Furthermore, Nasr-Azadani was charged with “waging war against God.”

In mid-September, Amini died suddenly in custody after being arrested for allegedly improperly wearing a hijab. According to witnesses, Amini was beaten by Guidance Patrol, but the Iranian government claims she died of a heart attack.

In its response to the punishment, the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) called it “shocking and sickening.”

“FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country,” the union tweeted on Monday.

“We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment.”

During the protests, Nasr-Azadani will become the 28th person to die during the protests, with Iran executing its first person on Thursday. Three of the 28 people are children.

Early this month, a friend of Saeid Ezatolahi, a member of Iran’s World Cup team, was shot and killed while celebrating Iran’s loss to the United States.