Mehdi Mahdavikia is threatened with trouble in his native Iran. During a friendly match, he wore a shirt with a small Israeli flag on it. That could now cost him his job as a national coach.
Former Bundesliga player Mehdi Mahdavikia has been criticized in Iran for having a small Israeli flag on his jersey. The 44-year-old is accused of wearing a jersey on which the flag of Iran’s archenemy Israel was printed at a friendly match organized by the world association Fifa. According to media reports on Monday, the issue has become a political issue and could have repercussions for Mahdavikia.
According to the Ilna news agency, Mahdavikia could lose his new job as coach of the Iranian youth national team.
Hardliners angry in parliament
The background to the excitement about the former professional and youth coach of Hamburger SV is a game in Qatar in mid-December. In the game of former players from an Arab all-star team and a world selection, Mahdavikia – as the only non-Arab – played in the Arab team. The flags of all FIFA members, including those of Israel, were printed on the shirts of both teams.
For the hardliners in parliament and the media close to them, Mahdavikia has crossed the “red line” of the country’s sports policy. Iran does not recognize Israel as a legitimate state, Mahdavikia has undermined this principle by wearing the jersey. In some cases, however, the allegations against Mahdavikia are also rejected as absurd.
The game in Qatar was not an official international match, but part of a sporting cultural program organized by Fifa. Mahdavikia could not have walked onto the field without a jersey, it was said in defense. Mahdavikia herself has not yet commented directly on the criticism.
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