Iran has banned two players from participating on its national team for playing against an Israeli club, a government spokesperson announced.
Iran captain Masoud Shojaei and midfielder Ehsan Haji Safi actively played for their Europa League team, Greece’s Panionios, when it faced Maccabi Tel Aviv last week.
Even though they sat out the first leg of their tournament in Israel, they played Maccabi Tel Aviv at home in Greece, which is still a violation of Iran’s government policy.
“It is certain that Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Haji Safi will never be invited to join the national football team because they violated the red line,” Iran deputy sports minister Mohammad Reza Davarzani said, via The New York Times.
Iran doesn’t recognize Israel as a country and has barred all of its athletes from playing against any Israeli teams.
Shojaei was instrumental in helping Iran secure a spot in the 2018 World Cup, playing for 70 minutes against Uzbekistan. Haji Safi was on the bench, but was expected to play when the team traveled to Russia next summer.
FIFA could fine Iran for imposing the ban, since it strictly prohibits mixing politics with international football.
Shojaei was also ostracized in June when he asked Irani president Hassan Rouhani if women could enter the stadium to watch the team play. Women have been barred from soccer stadiums in Iran since 1979, since arenas are deemed inappropriate for women.
