Iran Removes Women's Futsal Coach for Backing 2022 Protests

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran is taking steps to remove players and coaches who supported the 2022 protests on their social media platforms.

A source within the Football Federation, speaking to IranWire, revealed that Shahnaz Yari has been barred from coaching Iran's women's clubs and national futsal teams. 

This decision stems from directives issued by security institutions and the Ministry of Sports.

Since the start of nationwide demonstrations, football and futsal clubs have been mandated to consult with the security and protection institutions under the Ministry of Sports regarding these individuals before finalizing contracts with coaches and players.

The security institutions, in collaboration with the Football Federation and the country's clubs, have intervened in various cases. 

For instance, football legend Karim Bagheri's contract extension with Persepolis FC was disallowed. 

Voria Ghafouri not only faced exclusion from Iranian football but was also prevented from attending the Tehran derby at Azadi Stadium as a spectator. 

Ruzbeh Sinaki, the goalkeeper for Pars Jam FC, was expelled and relegated to the second league of Iranian football for wearing an armband bearing the names of Mahsa Amini and Nika Shakarami.

Aref Gholami faced similar repercussions, being expelled from both the national team and Esteghlal FC due to his participation in protests.

Who is Shahnaz Yari?

Shahnaz Yari, born in 1979 in Kermanshah, has made a name for herself as a prominent "futsal coach" in Iran over the past two decades. 

However, her sporting prowess extends beyond futsal. She was runner-up in Kermanshah's youth ping-pong competitions and was a member of the Iranian women's national handball team during her career.

After playing futsal professionally for two years, Yari transitioned into coaching. 

She began her coaching career with Sanat Kermanshah and later coached the Razi University and the Pars teams in the Iran Women's Futsal League.

Yari honed her coaching skills for over a decade within Iran's futsal clubs. 

In 2014, she achieved a significant milestone by becoming the head coach of the women's national futsal team in Iran.

However, two years later, personal differences with the then vice-president of the women's football federation led her to resign from the position. 

Shahnaz Yari's "crime," as perceived by the Football Federation, stems from her involvement with the nationwide protests of 2022. 

Yari, among other sports figures, sought to shed light on and oppose the oppression faced by the Iranian people by sharing their stories.