Sardar Azmoun, Iran’s star forward, has been expelled from the national team over a perceived act of disloyalty to the government. The move comes after Azmoun posted a photo on Instagram meeting Dubai's ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, during a visit to the UAE.
The incident follows escalating tensions between Iran and the UAE, which has been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks in retaliation for U.S.-Israel strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian state media condemned the post as unpatriotic, with football pundit Mohammad Misaghi calling it an act of disloyalty. He demanded Azmoun be stripped of the national jersey, stating players must proudly sing the anthem and uphold national honor.
Azmoun, 31, scored 57 goals in 91 international appearances since 2014 and has played abroad at Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and Roma. He was part of Iran’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup squads.
No official response has come from the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). Meanwhile, unsourced reports claim assets of Azmoun and two other UAE-based Iranian players are under seizure.
Iran’s men’s team is set to play friendly matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica in Antalya, Turkey, as preparation for the upcoming World Cup.