Former Bayern professional Ali Daei arrested in Iran - FCB is the only ex-club to remain silent

Created: 10/29/2022, 10:20 am

By: Antonio Jose Riether

Former Bayern Munich player Ali Daei has been arrested in Iran after supporting protests in the country.

However, the record champion has so far refrained from making a statement about the situation of his ex-player.

Saqqez - A wave of protests has been rolling in Iran since mid-September.

After the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died after being arrested by the Iranian vice squad for alleged dress code violations, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against the mullahs' regime.

The protesters are receiving prominent support from former Iranian soccer stars, who are now increasingly putting themselves at risk.

Most recently, former FC Bayern professional Ali Daei is said to have been arrested in his home country.

Iran protests: Ex-Bayern professional Ali Daei arrested in his homeland - even shots were fired

As the Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw reported on Wednesday, the longtime Bundesliga star was taken into custody by the security authorities.

The reason for this was his solidarity with the protesting people and especially the oppressed women. He reached more than 10 million Instagram followers with his posts critical of the government.

Daei's passport had already been confiscated in advance, and according to his own statement, he had received the document again in mid-October.

But now the next escalation level followed.

He was arrested during a trip to the city of Saqqez, where the 53-year-old wanted to attend Mahsa Amini's funeral with ex-national goalkeeper Hamed Lak.

According to the report, the two were taken away by the authorities in the ​“Hotel Kurd” in the city of 165,000, after they were apparently placed under the supervision of the secret service.

As a result, there were protests in front of the hotel, and shots are said to have been fired.

Solidarity from ex-clubs: Hertha BSC publicly praises Daeis courage, also Bielefeld with a statement

The arrest of the Iranian national team's record goalscorer not only provoked reactions in his home country, but also in his former home Germany, there are growing concerns.

Daei played for Hertha BSC for three years, the Berlin managing director Sport Fredi Bobic expressed his admiration for the commitment of the former striker at the press conference on Wednesday before the game at Werder Bremen.

"It's sad that it is like this.

But I still have great respect for courage.

He also certainly has a right to raise his voice, but it's a different regime."

Solidarity for Ali Daei: Hertha BSC's "East Curve" in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

© IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

FC Bayern is silent on the arrest of Ali Daei - in 1999 he became German champion with FCB

Already at the beginning of October, Hertha had backed their ex-player, who was active for the "Old Lady" from 1999 to 2002, with a public announcement.

Arminia Bielefeld, Daei's first club in Germany, also made a statement on Twitter on the day of his arrest and was "more than concerned" about current events in Iran.

"We show solidarity with all those who do not shy away from the conflict and show attitude," said the second division club via the short message service.

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Ali Daei, Bayern professional from 1998 to 1999, drew the World Cup groups in April.

© Kulich/DKA/Mohammed Dabbous/imago

FC Bayern Munich, with whom Daei won the German championship in 1999, refrained from reporting the arrest of the 107-time Bundesliga player.

Daei is not the first Iranian ex-Bayern professional to experience repression because of his criticism of the regime.

At the end of September, the house of former Munich resident Ali Karimi was confiscated after he publicly backed the protesters.

In this case, too, the record champions did not consider it necessary to support their former player in the form of a public statement.

(ajr)