Withdrawal from Iran's First Division Football League for 'Defending Islam'

Withdrawal during competitions and stepping back from continuing matches in Iranian football has become common, but for the first time in professional football worldwide, a club has opted out of participating in competitions for 'defending Islam.' This incident occurred in the first division of Iranian clubs, where the Mashhad team, Siah Jamagan, issued a statement regarding their unprecedented action: 'Enemies of Islam in the world have sharpened their swords to destroy Islam; events occurred in Kermanshah that warrant serious contemplation. Undoubtedly, we will not abandon the rights of Islam; if we remain silent, we must doubt our own Islam.' The club's website noted their presence at the Kargaran Stadium in Kermanshah for a match against the Rahian team: 'If such events were happening thousands of kilometers away from Iran's borders by sworn enemies of Islam, there would certainly be defenders pouring into the streets with swollen veins to protest, but alas, it is from within the very soil of this land that such a cruel desecration of the Quran occurs.' Alireza Behrovan, the organizer of the league matches, reacted to the decision of the Mashhad club by stating that they would not allow any team to withdraw from the league. The match supervisor also denied the alleged insult to the Quran. However, the club's statement emphasized: 'What has happened sends shivers down the spine of every Muslim. Abbasi, the team’s CEO, was reading the Quran, which he always holds, when a group attacked him, seized the book of God, and shamelessly tore it apart, without the slightest hesitation insulting the words of God.' No detailed explanation was provided regarding where the club's CEO was reciting the Quran during the football match and why he should be attacked, but a look at the results shows that a goal in the 86th minute by the Kermanshah team caused Siah Jamagan to fail to reach the top rank. In continuing the accusations they raised, the club also identified their alleged perpetrator: 'A group of showy spectators, led by someone who unfortunately is also our fellow townsman and has never refrained from inappropriate actions for victory, showered Siah Jamagan with everything they deserved.' The club also hinted at the 'religious pride' of the host club and emphasized: 'By condemning the desecration of the sacred Quran by individuals associated with the Rahian Kermanshah club, we will not participate in further competitions until the status of those who insult the words of God is clarified.' Akbar Mahmoudzadeh, the organizer of the first division league, denied the allegations of insulting the Quran and tearing the holy book of Muslims, stating that in some matches of Siah Jamagan, the club's CEO enters the field, which is not legal. He noted that this has happened before, including in a match against Pas Hamadan. The league organizer said he spoke with Mohammad Faghani, the match supervisor, who stated that they prevented the Siah Jamagan CEO from entering the field. Now, if there is evidence that someone insulted the Quran, they should provide it to us.