Iranian football star Sardar Azmoun has been removed from the national team roster after a photo he posted in January 2025 resurfaced. The image, shared on Instagram, showed Azmoun shaking hands with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the largest city in the UAE. Azmoun, 31, had expressed his pleasure and honor at meeting "one of the most successful minds in the world," even pinning the post to his profile.

Sardar Azmoun posted a photo on Instagram shaking hands with Dubai leader, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

The photo, despite being over a year old, is now under intense scrutiny. This comes amidst Iran's ongoing military conflict with the United States, Israel, and several regional allies, including the UAE. The regional situation escalated significantly after Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting the UAE. These attacks were in retaliation for US and Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Fars News Agency, an outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cited internal team sources confirming Azmoun's removal from the national squad. However, the Iran Football Federation has yet to officially confirm this information. On state television, commentator Mohammad Misaghi sharply criticized Azmoun's actions, deeming them a sign of disloyalty. "It's a pity you lack the awareness to understand what behavior is appropriate at different times," Misaghi stated, adding that Azmoun does not deserve to wear the Iran national team jersey.

According to Novad News, unconfirmed reports suggest that authorities have also ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to Azmoun. This order reportedly extends to several other Iranian players currently competing in the UAE, including Mehdi Ghayedi, a midfielder for Al Nasr.

Sardar Azmoun (white jersey) competes for the ball with Kouame Kouadio during the Iran vs. UAE World Cup 2026 qualifier at Azadi Sports Complex, Tehran, Iran on 20/3/2025. *Photo: Reuters*

Azmoun is a prominent figure in Iranian football. He has spent many years playing in Europe for clubs such as Zenit Saint Petersburg, Leverkusen, and Roma. He currently plays for Shabab Al-Ahli in the UAE. On the international stage, the forward has scored 57 goals in 91 matches, representing Iran at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Iran is scheduled to play friendly matches against Nigeria on 27/3 and Costa Rica on 31/3 in Turkey, in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. In the tournament, Iran is placed in Group E, where they are set to face New Zealand (15/6) and Belgium (21/6) in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt (26/6) in Seattle, all within the United States. However, Iran's participation in the tournament remains uncertain due to the ongoing conflict with the host nation, the US.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail)