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2 Iranians banned for life from National team for playing against Israelis

Discussion in 'World Football' started by Drakhan, Aug 11, 2017.

Discuss 2 Iranians banned for life from National team for playing against Israelis in the World Football area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. Drakhan Nac Mac Feegle Gold Member

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    Iran has has issued a life ban from the national team to two footballers after they played against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv for their Greek club side.

    The two midfielders, Masoud Shojaei, 33, the captain of the national team, and Ehsan Hajisafi, 27, one of the stars of the national team, appeared for their Greek team Panionios in the Europa League third qualifying round second leg last week.

    “It is certain that Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Hajisafi will never be invited to join the national football team because they violated the red line,” Mohammad Reza Davarzani, Iran’s deputy sports minister, said in an address on national television.

    "They have a financial contract with a club to be paid and play for that team, but to play with the representative of a loathsome regime... this is not acceptable for Iranian people."

    The Iranian government does not recognise the state of Israel - and Iranian athletes are forbidden from competing against Israelis.

    Both Shojaei and Hajisafi had refused to play in the away leg in Israel, despite facing "pressure" and "financial fines" from their club, the sports ministry said.
    But they turned out for the home leg on August 4. Panionios lost the game 0-1 and the tie 0-2 on aggregate.
    Ali Kafashian, the Iran football federation vice president, told the Mizan Online website that the two men should not have played "even if their contracts would have been terminated".


    Hossein Naghavi-Hosseini, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's foreign policy committee, told the semi-official Mehr news agency: “Agreeing to play in a game against athletes of a regime that has given humanity nothing other than occupation, murder, aggression and betrayal is disrespectful of the rights of thousands of martyrs and those displaced and affected by the occupying Zionist regime.”

    The Israeli foreign ministry tweeted: "Well done to Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Hajisafi who broke the taboo of not playing in matches against Israeli athletes."

    The Iranian football team, managed by former Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, has qualified for next year's world cup in Russia.

    The loss of the midfield duo is expected to harm their chances at the tournament.

    When they signed for Panionios in July, Hajisafi had 84 caps and six goals, while Shojaei had 71 caps and eight goals.
     
    KRS-1888 likes this.
  2. Drakhan Nac Mac Feegle Gold Member

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    Absolutely ridiculous.
    Hope FIFA ban them from the World Cup along with all the other Arab nations that do this.
    Not defending Israel but footballers should have the right to play for their country when picked without interference from the politicians.
     
  3. Bunk Moreland

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    "The loss of the midfield duo is expected to harm their chances at the tournament."

    Chances of what? Getting hammered by less than they usually would? :56:
     
  4. Murph-E

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    Disgrace, and a decision blatantly made because of antisemitism, hidden as "it's the Israeli political regime we're against!" excuse.
     
  5. jake10

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    Fifa might ban Iran from world cup as government interference in football * them off, sometimes
     
  6. jake10

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    Fifa might ban Iran from world cup as government interference in football * them off, sometimes
     
  7. Tim-Time 1888 Always look on the bright side of Life Gold Member

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    Remind me again who is the oppressive regime ... If you have an official spokesman talking about martyrs you are losing credibility as well. Bottom line is if Iran was confident 'their' people could/would beat the Israeli's I'm sure there wouldn't be such a ban in place either tbh.
     
  8. KRS-1888 Scott La Rock

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    Fair play to the Islamic Republic of Iran for taking a principled stand against the Zionist occupation entity known as Israel.
     
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  9. CymruBhoy

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    I wouldn't play against any representative of an apartheid state who target innocent civilians with bombs & the state sponsors political assassinations.
    * Israel & everything it represents.
     
  10. Pacific Ocean Blue

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    We played Beer Sheva last season so were our players in the wrong playing against them?
     
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  11. CymruBhoy

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    IMG_1738.JPG
     
  12. Pacific Ocean Blue

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    You never really caught a bite, I was just curious :34:
     
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  13. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    Yes.

    The sooner Israel is treated like the Pariah state it is and is boycotted by the world, the better.
     
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  14. Tim-Time 1888 Always look on the bright side of Life Gold Member

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    Aye we should have withdrawn from the competition, that would have shown those Zionist uefa * :97:
     
  15. Sean Daleer Free Palestine Gold Member

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    It actually would have yes, and it would be an unbelievable gesture.

    Never going to happen though obviously.

    I live in hope though that Israel gets the same treatment as South Africa one of these years.
     
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  16. StPauli1916 Gold Member Gold Member

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    But should you then be banned from ever representing Wales ?
     
  17. CymruBhoy

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    I went too far too soon.
    I didn't know I had to follow a big idea up with lots of little ones. I want out.
     
  18. Pacific Ocean Blue

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    It won't happen for a lot of reasons
     
  19. StPauli1916 Gold Member Gold Member

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    :56::56::50:
     
  20. clonbhoy

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    :56::56::57: