Iran's football stars are facing a harsh reality as the government cracks down on protests with an internet blackout that has left millions in the dark. For Mehdi Taremi, scoring a crucial goal for Olympiakos was overshadowed by his silence over the growing unrest back home. The Iranian striker, who has been vocal about the regime's human rights record, refused to celebrate his latest win due to his concerns about the state of affairs in his country.
The government is taking extreme measures to quell the protests, with reports of death and repression spreading rapidly. Football, which has long held a special place in Iranian culture, is being used as a tool for the regime's own purposes, with players and coaches being pressured into silence. But Taremi's stance suggests that even those who are celebrated internationally are not immune to the pressure.
Ali Daei, another cultural icon, faced similar consequences when he backed protests in 2022, with his family facing restrictions on their movement. The former national team defender Voria Ghafouri was detained recently for "spreading propaganda against Iran", highlighting the dangers of speaking out.
Carlos Queiroz, the coach of the Iranian national team, has been vocal about the situation, posting a poem attributed to Ahmad Shamlou on social media that read: "Freedom is breathing in an air where there is no lie." The Portuguese coach expressed his support for the people of Iran, calling for more questions and information about the crisis.
As the world watches, the football stars are facing an impossible choice: stay silent or risk everything. But with Queiroz's words echoing through the darkness, it seems that some may be willing to take a stand against the regime's brutality. The question remains whether they will have enough courage to do so without being silenced by the authorities.
The government is taking extreme measures to quell the protests, with reports of death and repression spreading rapidly. Football, which has long held a special place in Iranian culture, is being used as a tool for the regime's own purposes, with players and coaches being pressured into silence. But Taremi's stance suggests that even those who are celebrated internationally are not immune to the pressure.
Ali Daei, another cultural icon, faced similar consequences when he backed protests in 2022, with his family facing restrictions on their movement. The former national team defender Voria Ghafouri was detained recently for "spreading propaganda against Iran", highlighting the dangers of speaking out.
Carlos Queiroz, the coach of the Iranian national team, has been vocal about the situation, posting a poem attributed to Ahmad Shamlou on social media that read: "Freedom is breathing in an air where there is no lie." The Portuguese coach expressed his support for the people of Iran, calling for more questions and information about the crisis.
As the world watches, the football stars are facing an impossible choice: stay silent or risk everything. But with Queiroz's words echoing through the darkness, it seems that some may be willing to take a stand against the regime's brutality. The question remains whether they will have enough courage to do so without being silenced by the authorities.
. I mean, football is supposed to be a way for people to come together and celebrate their culture, but instead it's being used as a tool to control and suppress. And these guys, like Taremi and Queiroz, they're speaking truth to power, even if it means risking their own freedom.
. The pressure on players and coaches is huge, but it's also heartbreaking that people are being silenced like this. And what really gets me is that the world isn't doing enough to speak out against it.
. It's all about standing up for freedom and speaking truth to power. I just hope more people will follow his lead and stand with the Iranian people, rather than staying silent. 
I'm really worried about these Iranian football stars, like Mehdi Taremi and Carlos Queiroz, who are speaking out against the government's crackdown on protests. It's not cool that they're facing pressure to stay silent, even though they have a platform to use their voices for good 
. Ali Daei and Voria Ghafouri went through this too, and it's heartbreaking to think about what happened to them 
. But we have to be real, it's not gonna be easy for them if they decide to take a stand 
the gov is literally using sports as a tool to control people's minds what if more players speak up and refuse to play for the state? like, it's not just Taremi, Ghafouri was detained for speaking out too, how much more do they have to suffer before someone does something? Queiroz's poem tho 
. And Ali Daei faced the same thing last year, that's wild. But at the same time, you gotta admire Carlos Queiroz for speaking truth to power... he's basically saying "hey, we know what's going on here" 
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️. It's like they're being forced to choose between their country of origin and their conscience. I hope more people, especially those in positions of power, are speaking out against this regime's actions 
. It's crazy how one of their own, Ali Daei, had to deal with the same thing back in 2022... it just shows how much pressure these people are under. Carlos Queiroz is trying to do his part by posting that poem on social media, and I gotta say, that's super brave 
... and if more footballers follow suit, it could be a powerful way to bring attention to the situation. But, at the same time, I can imagine how scary it must be for them to risk everything by speaking out 
. Will they find the courage to take a stand?
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. But will it be enough? Can we really expect these players to just suddenly start speaking out without any consequences?
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. If people are allowed to express their opinions freely, that's what freedom looks like, right? And Carlos Queiroz's poem was so powerful - it's like he's saying we need more voices speaking out against the regime's brutality