Instagram Farewell of Voria Ghafouri; 'I Wanted to Say Goodbye in Normal Conditions at the Stadium'

Voria Ghafouri, the former captain of Esteghlal Football Club, who had previously stated he would retire from football during the derby but was not allowed to enter the stadium, announced his farewell from the world of football through an Instagram post. In this post, Voria Ghafouri wrote: 'My football career as a player has come to an end. I was eager to say goodbye for the last time in normal conditions at Azadi Stadium with the presence of football lovers and alongside the fans of my beloved team, but unfortunately, I was unable to come to the stadium to ease the pain of separation with your presence.' The former national team player of Iran continued: 'I am very grateful to my coaches, my teammates, football fans, especially the great and beloved Esteghlal team, and of course my dear family who have always been sincerely by my side in this rocky path. In the end, I thank the Almighty God and am grateful to football for giving me a family as vast as Iran.' Fans at the Esteghlal and Persepolis derby on Wednesday, June 10, cheered for Voria Ghafouri multiple times, leading to the slogan 'Voria, the man of honor, your words are the words of the nation,' which caused the Islamic Republic's broadcasting service to cut the live broadcast at minute 21. This beloved figure in Iranian football had previously emphasized in an interview: 'I have one life, which I would sacrifice thousands of times for Iran.' Voria Ghafouri and Ali Karimi are among the sports figures who have been cheered by fans for their support of people's rights, even without being present on the football field. Voria Ghafouri, who is Kurdish, is one of the few Iranian football players who has repeatedly criticized the government while supporting popular protests. He has addressed issues such as the death of Mahsa Amini, the suppression of defenseless women and children, and the brutal killings of Kurds by government forces in his messages. Due to his courage and bravery, Voria Ghafouri enjoys great popularity among the people and is considered one of the prominent critics of the Islamic Republic.