Iranian President to Pardon Football Legend Ali Daei

(Patria) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered his Minister of Sports to lift the ban imposed on football legend Ali Daei, the Etemad newspaper, close to the presidential office, reported yesterday.

This measure would allow Daei to return to football. Analysts believe this is an attempt to calm political protests in the country.

Daei was banned from all football activities and his passport was temporarily confiscated by the authorities, for showing solidarity with the demonstrators who protested across the country in September 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd.

Amini died in police custody after being arrested for violating strict Islamic dress code rules.

However, Daei, in his first reaction, rejected returning to football, saying - "I am not interested".

According to media reports, he was even considered a candidate for the presidency of the Iranian Football Federation, but he rejected that offer.

Daei played in Germany for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, and Hertha Berlin between 1997 and 2002.

With 149 appearances, he is the player with the most matches for the Iranian national team and the third player with the most goals scored in international matches (109), behind Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (135) and Argentina's Lionel Messi (112).