Former Persepolis and National Team Player Sewed His Lips Shut

Manouchehr Shafaghian, a former player of Persepolis and the national team in the 1980s, is suffering from a neurological disease and financial problems. He has sewn his lips and mouth shut, stating he is ready to die. In his letter to the sports newspaper Khabar Varzeshi, he wrote: "I will not go to the hospital. I want to die. I have gone on a hunger strike at my mother's house. No one saw me in line for charity donations while I begged for food for my family. I sewed my lips for all the veterans whose tables are only opened and closed by poverty, hoping that with my death, the officials will wake up." Shafaghian has repeatedly requested a job in football. He has stated that as a former national player, he would even be willing to be the laundry manager of a club to manage his life. The former left defender of Persepolis emphasized that rumors of addiction bother him more than his actual problems. He is always willing to undergo tests. His issue is not addiction but a mental illness that worsens daily due to poverty. He has played for teams such as Rah Ahan, Boutan, Daryayi, Pas, and Persepolis. He was called up to the Iranian national football team during the coaching of Parviz Dehdari. In the peak years of his football career, his positional rivals were Asghar Hajiloo and then Mojtaba Moharrami. Ali Parvin played both him and Moharrami in Persepolis due to their key roles. With such quality, he was selected as the best left defender in the 1987 season. Shafaghian was also a member of the youth national team and has experience playing in world army competitions and world railways competitions. When Hadi Norouzi passed away, Ali Daei protested against the 'exploitation of Norouzi's name by officials,' saying: 'Shut down your hat-making workshop. It seems a bunch of actors have gathered to show themselves.' Daei emphasized: 'In a few months, everyone will forget what promises they made. Just as the promises to the family of the late Majid Sabzi were forgotten. How many times have the gentlemen approached the family of Fariborz Moradi? They don't go because it has no advertising benefit. Does anyone know what condition Manouchehr Shafaghian is in? Does anyone ask about Karim Bavari?' In response to Daei's remarks, Shafaghian said: 'Mr. Daei, I am not asking you to put money in my pocket. I also have a granddaughter, a wife, and children. I want to be able to buy my granddaughter an ice cream without being stuck. I wish instead of telling sports officials, you would tell me to come here after practice at the Saba club and wash their clothes. I just want a job in the sport I dedicated my life to.' In his letter to Khabar Varzeshi, he wrote: 'No one has taken my nerve pills to understand why Shafaghian has become like this. No one sat at my table to see that I put a bowl of blood on the table.'