The Iranian government announced details about a football player this Monday, naming Amir Nasr-Azadani as the individual involved. He has been sentenced to death in connection with his alleged participation in anti-government protests. The claim has circulated widely across media outlets and social platforms as part of a broader debate about political action and athletes speaking out on human rights issues in Iran.
The claim that a professional footballer faced a death penalty quickly spread through social channels and onlookers questioned the accuracy of such reports. In Colombia, questions arose after the Iranian Embassy there appeared to acknowledge the situation and referenced remarks from President Gustavo Petro, who urged Iran not to carry out any executions against athletes who engaged in protests. These exchanges highlight the international sensitivity surrounding cases that mix sports, politics, and human rights in the region.
Petro used his social media account to express support for the people of Argentina and to emphasize the view that violence has no place in football or politics. He wrote that his country does not support the idea that football should be used as a tool to justify state violence. The message drew attention to the broader conversation about how countries engage with distant audiences on matters of justice and freedom of expression.
In response, Iranian diplomatic officials in Colombia criticized what they described as a hybrid information war, asserting that a campaign of misinformation was ongoing. They argued that the trial in question had not yet concluded and labeled the reported death sentence as false. The embassy clarified that Nasr-Azadani stood as the fifth defendant in a criminal case tied to actions attributed to an armed group accused of harming police officers and security personnel using automatic weapons, a claim that remains contested and is part of a larger legal process.
The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO) released a statement on the matter last week, expressing concern about the reported sentence. FIFPRO described itself as shocked and distressed by learning that a professional footballer could face execution for campaigning for women’s rights and broader civil freedoms in Iran. The organization urged authorities to reassess the case and called for the sentence to be lifted promptly. The union stressed its solidarity with the player and highlighted the importance of protecting athletes who advocate for fundamental human rights.
Nasr-Azadani, a former player for clubs such as Rah Ahan, Tractor, and Gol-e Rayhan, is 26 years old. Iranian authorities attributed a crime labeled as harming God to him, a charge sometimes referred to in state rhetoric as “enmity toward God.” This charge carries the potential for capital punishment in certain circumstances but has also been the subject of intense international scrutiny and criticism regarding due process and fair trial standards. The case is part of a broader pattern where young athletes express political opinions and face severe penalties, a pattern that has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and supporters around the world. Past cases with similar charges, including public executions witnessed in Mashhad, have been cited in discussions about legal fairness and political repression in the country.