Ali Daei’s first official appearance after being banned from leaving the country

Daei, 52, was one of first players to compete in a European league. He played in the Bundesliga, first with Arminia Bielefeld before joining Bayern Munich and then Hertha Berlin. Hertha on Sunday tweeted that it was “dismayed looking at the current situation in Iran. Our former player Ali Daei is no longer permitted to leave the country because he has come out in favour of women’s rights.” The football star told AFP: “Unfortunately, I don’t understand why they seized my passport. And after this lack of respect, what does the return of the passport mean legally?”

February 19, 2023 | 5:14 am