Iranian football legend, Mahdavikia under fire for breaking Iran sport policy

By Adodo Osenwengie

The Iranian former captain, Mehdi Mahdavikia, has come under fierce criticism for wearing a shirt in a friendly match organised by the world football governing body, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) which contains the Israeli flag.

The FIFA-organised match brought together Arab and world football legends together in Doha.

According to emerging reports on Monday, Mahdavikia may lose his job as the Head Coach of the under-23 Iranian national football team as a result of the attire.

Iran, a country known as one of the foremost Islamic Republic has noted that the actions of Mahdavikia go contrary to Iran sports’ policy and this includes other Iranian athletes not to compete against Israel in any competition.

Dismissing the accusation, the former teammates of the Iranian, sports media, and other concerned citizens in solidarity with the 44years old Mahdavikia who took part in a match in Doha on December 17, noted that the match he is being criticised for was not official.

They added that the match played on the eve of the Arab Cup final that Mahdavikia participated in was more of a cultural event and all the players and all FIFA members wore shirts with small flags including Israel.

It is a public knowledge that Iran does not recognise Israel as a state.

The underfire Iran football legend, Mahdavikia, played club football in Germany at Bochum, SV Hamburg, and Eintracht Frankfurt.

He won 111 Iranian caps and has coached in Hamburg academy as well as junior Iran teams.