[84623] Khodadad Azizi: Politicization in the Iranian national team is a shortsighted move

Tension surrounding the national team: Azizi against the politicization of sports

In a series of statements published as part of the "Varzesh-3" project, Iranian football legend Khodadad Azizi spoke out against the interference of political considerations in the selection of the national team squad. Azizi, in an interview that echoed across Iranian sports networks, argued that "selecting players based on political issues is a shortsighted act" according to Varzesh-3 channel.

Azizi emphasized that he is unable to understand the attitude of those factions that wish for the national team's defeat for political reasons. According to him, "there are always those who want the team to lose," a stance that received widespread coverage in local sports media according to Varzesh-3.

Additionally, Azizi recalled with nostalgia a time when sports succeeded in uniting the Iranian public beyond disputes, noting that "in 1998, in the USA, the entire stadium was filled with our fans" according to the Footballi channel. His words reflect deep frustration with the growing polarization surrounding the institution of the national team, which has traditionally been considered a symbol of unified national pride.

The reports, which received over 114,000 views within a single day, highlight Azizi's ongoing influence in the public discourse in Iran. The Varzesh-3 channel, identified with state and professional sports coverage, emphasized the importance of Azizi's remarks as part of a series dealing with the complex interplay between politics and professional sports.