Iranian football superstar fined $40000 for not fasting
Ali Karimi, Iranian football superstar, is suspended for 2 games and fined $40000 for not fasting during practice sessions. The news was announced today by Disciplinary Committee of Steel Azin team. The Committee called the decision not to fire Karimi "prompted by Islamic kindness and mercy."
Last week, Karimi, a well known football (soccer) superstar in Asia and Europe was suspended from Iran's Steel Azin team because he publicly ate and drank during soccer practices in the month of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. The expulsion, despite strong objection by the Team's captain, Mahdavikia (another Persian football superstar) was ordered by Ajorloo, a former Revolutionary Guard Chief who is now assigned as Managing Director of the team. Karimi's teammates shared with reporters that most athletes can not fast during games or practices, and need to eat and drink to maintain their energy levels. They called the expulsion politically motivated due to Karimi's outspoken personality and support of Iran's "Green" reform movement. Some believe Iranian religious laws (against eating in public) were used merely as an excuse to punish Karimi. Reports from Tehran indicate that a large number of people eat, drink or smoke in the public during the fasting month without any reprisal by the police.
Ali Karimi (or Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki) born on 8 November 1978, is an Iranian professional footballer, who plays as a Winger or deep-lying Forward for Steel Azin of the Iran Pro League. He was the Asian Player of the Year in 2004 and played between 2005 and 2007 for German Bundesliga's Bayern Munich. He has also played along Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates (2001- 2002), Qatar Sports Club (2007), Al-Sailiya (2008), and Iran's Persepolis (2008- 2009).
Karimi is the third highest scorer of Iranian soccer (football). He played in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for Iranian National team and scored in a 1–0 victory over United Arab Emirates. During the June 17 2009 match against South Korea, a number of Iranian players, including Karimi, wore green wristbands in solidarity with Iranian Green Reform movement led by opposition leader Hossein Mousavi, who accused the Iranian government of vote rigging in June 2009 Presidential elections. There were reports after the game that the players who wore the green wristbands were banned from the team for life. On 24 June 2009 FIFA wrote to Iran's football federation asking for clarification on the situation. The Iranian football federation replied that no disciplinary action has been taken against any player. Karimi has been allowed to play in Iranian Pro League since then but has faced restrictions and political pressures by the government and the Pro-Ahmadinejad militia.
