Possibility of Removing Hossein Hosseini from Esteghlal After National Team Dismissal; Reason: Support for a Female Fan

In the latest event of ongoing pressures on popular figures among sports personalities by the officials of the Islamic Republic, reports indicate the possibility of Hossein Hosseini, the captain of Esteghlal football team, being sidelined from the team. Previously, the disciplinary committee of the Football Federation had penalized Hosseini with a fine, a public apology in official media, and a ban from attending the match against Tractor after he embraced a female spectator. However, now discussions about his departure from Esteghlal have emerged. The Tabnak website reported on Tuesday, July 2, about "Hosseini's unwanted departure from Esteghlal," stating that "there is no valid reason for Hosseini's separation from Esteghlal, but this potential separation is currently fraught with many ambiguities." According to this report, "the officials of Esteghlal club have reached a complete agreement with a Bosnian goalkeeper who is ready to come to Tehran to sign a contract," but this issue has provoked "strong and protest reactions from fans and some veterans." Hossein Hosseini has one more season left on his contract with Esteghlal, and according to observers, he had a "very good performance last season." Previously, prominent sports figures such as Voria Ghafouri, Ali Daei, Hossein Mahini, Aref Gholami, and Saeed Marouf faced pressures and legal actions from intelligence and judicial institutions due to their support for public protests and alignment with the peaceful demands of citizens. Hossein Hosseini, the captain of Esteghlal football team, embraced a female fan who jumped onto the field during a match between Aluminium Arak and Esteghlal Tehran last season. Following this action, the Football Federation accused Hosseini of "misconduct towards the official authorities of the match" and, in addition to the previous fine of 300 million tomans, condemned him to pay a "30 million toman fine, mandatory public apology in official media," and a ban from attending the match against Tractor. Meanwhile, the Esteghlal goalkeeper stated in an interview on April 20, "I will pay the fine. I sacrifice for that female fan!" The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic has previously taken similar punitive actions against other sports figures, including Voria Ghafouri, Aref Gholami, Zire Nik Nafas, Roozbeh Sinki, and Hossein Mahini. Additionally, Amir Nasr Azadani, a former player of prominent football teams such as Sepahan Isfahan and Tractor Sazi Tabriz, was arrested during the nationwide protests of 2022 and was sentenced by the judiciary to 26 years in prison, including 16 years of definitive imprisonment.