Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkiyan has ordered his sports minister to lift the ban imposed on the country’s soccer legend Ali Daei, the Etemad newspaper, close to the presidential office, reported on Tuesday.
This measure would allow Daei to return to football. Observers believe that it is an attempt to calm political protests in the country.
Daei was banned from all football activities and the authorities temporarily confiscated his passport, due to his solidarity with the protesters who protested across the country in September 2022 after the death of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. Amini died in police custody after being arrested for violating strict Islamic dress codes.
Daei, however, initially ruled out a return to football, saying: “I’m not interested.”
According to media reports, he was even considered as a candidate for the presidency of the Iranian Football Association, but he turned down the offer.
Daei played in Germany for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin between 1997 and 2002.
With 149 appearances, he is the most capped player for the Iranian national team and the third most goalscorer in international matches (109), behind football stars , Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (135) and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (112).
