Legendary Iranian player Ali Daei claims that after their aircraft was redirected, his wife and daughter were denied permission to leave the country.
Daei has been an outspoken supporter of the more than 100-day-old anti-government demonstrations in Iran. The former footballer said that his wife and daughter were traveling from Tehran to Dubai to join him on vacation. They were instructed to exit the aircraft when it was forced to land on the Iranian island of Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. According to the flight tracking information, the aircraft stopped on the island for around two hours before continuing to Dubai.
Daei and his support for the protesters has previously landed him in trouble
“My daughter and wife were taken off the flight, but they were not arrested. Had they been banned [from leaving], the passport police system should have shown it,” Daei was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. No one has given me an answer about this. I really don’t know what is the reason for these things. “Daei and his support for the protesters has previously landed him in trouble as well. Earlier this month, reports emerged Daei’s two shops situated in Tehran’s fashionable north were shut down, following a judicial order.
A week after Daei claimed in an Instagram post that he had received threats for supporting the rallies, the Iranian judiciary issued the ruling. In a recent post on Instagram, Daei stated, “I have gotten multiple threats against myself and my family from several organizations, media, and unknown persons.” “Humanity, honor, patriotism, and freedom were taught to me. What are you hoping to accomplish with these threats? “Added he.
For a long time, Daei held the global record for the most international goals scored (109) before Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him last year. Between 1993 and 2006, he made just 148 outings to set the record.