A Dubai-bound flight carrying the wife and daughter of former football national team captain Ali Daei, who has supported anti-government protests, was re-routed by the Iranian authorities, preventing them from leaving the country.

Iranian football legend Ali Daei says family ordered off flight, barred from leaving country

Iran is set to execute 26-year-old footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani. He has been charged with "waging war against god." Current and former players are asking for leniency.

WION Fineprint | Iran to execute footballer

Iran, on Tuesday, released its two arrested players in connection with ongoing protests in the country ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA. Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, and Voria Ghafouri were the two players who got arrested for participating in the biggest protests against Iran's ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The announcement had come hours before the start of Iran’s third group game against the USA at Al Thumama Stadium. As reported by the&nbsp;state-linked media, Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, was jailed on charges of damaging property and also for participating in the protests in Tehran while Voria Ghafouri was arrested last week for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fireworks-as-iran-kurdistan-protesters-celebrate-usas-fifa-world-cup-group-stage-victory-538725">Fireworks as Iran Kurdistan protesters celebrate USA's FIFA World Cup group stage victory</a>

Ghafouri, who is also the captain of the Persian Gulf Pro League club, Foolad wasn’t picked for the FIFA World Cup 2022. For a long time, Ghafouri had been quite vocal against the Iranian authorities, objecting to their longstanding ban on women fans at men’s football games, as well as on Iran’s confrontational foreign policy that has led to Western sanctions. Even recently only, the right-back showed sympathy for a family of a 22-year-old woman, who died while being in the custody of Iran’s morality police – something that ignited the latest protests in the country. Other than these, Ghafouri also raised his voice to end the violent protests in Iran's western Kurdistan region.

The USA beat Iran to advance to knockouts

The USA became the second team after England in Group B to advance to the knockout stages after they defeated Iran 1-0 in the final group game on Tuesday. Star winger Christian Pulisic scored the only goal in the 38th minute to hand his team the much-required win. Team USA will now face the Netherlands in the Round-of-16 match.

Iran, on Tuesday, released its two arrested players in connection with ongoing protests in the country ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA. Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, and Voria Ghafouri were the two players who got arrested for participating in the biggest protests against Iran's ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran, on Tuesday, released its two arrested players in connection with ongoing protests in the country ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2022 match against the USA. Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, and Voria Ghafouri were the two players who got arrested for participating in the biggest protests against Iran's ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The announcement had come hours before the start of Iran’s third group game against the USA at Al Thumama Stadium. As reported by the state-linked media, Parviz Boroumand, a retired goalkeeper, was jailed on charges of damaging property and also for participating in the protests in Tehran while Voria Ghafouri was arrested last week for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government." ALSO READ: Fireworks as Iran Kurdistan protesters celebrate USA's FIFA World Cup group stage victory Ghafouri, who is also the captain of the Persian Gulf Pro League club, Foolad wasn’t picked for the FIFA World Cup 2022. For a long time, Ghafouri had been quite vocal against the Iranian authorities, objecting to their longstanding ban on women fans at men’s football games, as well as on Iran’s confrontational foreign policy that has led to Western sanctions. Even recently only, the right-back showed sympathy for a family of a 22-year-old woman, who died while being in the custody of Iran’s morality police – something that ignited the latest protests in the country. Other than these, Ghafouri also raised his voice to end the violent protests in Iran's western Kurdistan region. The USA beat Iran to advance to knockouts The USA became the second team after England in Group B to advance to the knockout stages after they defeated Iran 1-0 in the final group game on Tuesday. Star winger Christian Pulisic scored the only goal in the 38th minute to hand his team the much-required win. Team USA will now face the Netherlands in the Round-of-16 match.

Two arrested Iranian players released ahead of USA World Cup game