Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster has applauded Daniel Arzani for his simple yet important gesture after scoring a goal for Macarthur against Adelaide United on Sunday.
After finding the back of the net in the 27th minute, the World Cup hopeful ran to the sideline to collect a taped shirt with #MahsaAmini written on it.
The star playmaker then held the shirt up for the cameras in a beautiful display of solidarity for women’s rights in Iran.
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Arzani was born in Iran before emigrating and representing Australia.
A protest movement erupted in Iran on September 17 after the death of Amini in police custody.
The 22-year-old was arrested for not abiding by the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.
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“Daniel Arzani did really well, scored one, set one up but I particularly liked what he did when he scored the goal,” Foster said on Stan Sport FC.
“Daniel is of Iranian background of course, part of our beautiful Iranian-Australian community and this has been a big issue for footballers and football all around the world.
“Some of the former Iranian national team legends have had their passports taken, some former players have been locked up, a very significant issue.
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“And the reason why this is wonderful from Daniel, and is perfectly fine, because he’s talking about just basic human rights here, so he has a right to do this on the field.
“He’s made what I think is an important statement and I would like to see all of our game supporting women’s rights, girls rights and indeed the game of football in Iran where women still are not equality in terms of entering a stadium or watching the game.”
Iran football legend Ali Daei had his passport confiscated at the airport when he returned from abroad.
Protests continue in Iran
Daei had urged the government on social media to “solve the problems of the Iranian people rather than using repression, violence and arrests.”
Two more ex-Iran stars, Hossein Mahini and Hamidreza Aliasgari, were arrested and released on bail.
“They’ve got a huge amount of issues and there’s becoming a lot more pressure on FIFA now, to step up and sanction Iran given the fact that some of the former players have actually been incarcerated and have been sanctioned in many ways,” Foster said.
“I like that he (Arzani) did it, I think it’s fabulous and it’s great, once again, to actually see him scoring goals, playing well and feeling at his best.”
Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi denied any athletes had been arrested but said some had received “guidance.”
He said Mahini, for example, had been released and given “the chance to make good on his mistakes,” according to the Mehr News Agency.
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Persepolis FC players wore black armbands during a match in solidarity with the protest movement and were later summoned by security, Iran International reported.
Holly Dagres, an Iranian-American non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the attempts to intimidate public figures were no surprise.
“While using #MahsaAmini might seem like keyboard activism, Iranians see the world’s attention is on them and they appreciate it,” Dagres said.
“The solidarity invigorates protesters to keep braving batons and bullets to make a change in their country. It gives them hope.” – with Associated Press
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