It is hard not to admire the courage of Saman Ghoddos, the Premier League ’s only Iranian, as he explains why there is an obligation to use this World Cup as a platform to demand change.
Team Melli, who face England on Monday, have arrived in Qatar despite calls for FIFA to boot Iran out of the tournament.
In part because the country’s autocratic regime is supplying Russia with arms. But also because their homeland is in the middle of an uprising that has claimed more than 300 lives and seen the government vote in favour of sentencing thousands of protestors to death.
Protestors whose demand is simply allowing more freedom for women who remain brutally discriminated against to the extent it is illegal to attend almost all football matches.
Iran’s players have previously been warned that professing support for the protestors, who have taken to the streets since Mahsa Amini died in “morality” police custody in September, could affect their selection chances.
Yet amid fears of repercussions, Ghoddos is crystal clear about this being an opportunity for players to utilise their platforms to make an impact far beyond football.
“Of course,” the Brentford utility man says of feeling a responsibility to stand up and back the protestors. “I don't want to mix politics with football but football is coming to the side right now, because people are losing their lives fighting for freedom.
“Clearly a change needs to come and it's already been going on for so long. We all want to change.
“If you think it’s the right thing to do, I think you should [speak out] because you’re a famous athlete. If you can put a light on what’s going on you should do it – with pressure or without pressure because it’s the right thing to do.”
Ghoddos understands why there were calls for Iran to be expelled from the tournament. But he insists it would have been unfair on the players and would not have brought the desired change.
Ukraine ’s FA led the drive for expulsion because of the regime’s links to Russia, with Sepp Blatter among those claiming a suspension would be justified. A friendly between the countries is also planned despite the 2018 World Cup hosts being banned by FIFA.
The Open Stadiums campaign group, meanwhile, told Mirror Football that England should refuse to play Iran because of the continued discrimination of women – having previously found the governing body non-responsive.
But it is the protests since Amini’s death that have left the biggest impact and asked profound questions of Iran’s rulers. The 22-year-old was arrested for not wearing her hijab to the standards expected from the regime and subsequently died of a suspected brain bleed while in custody.
“No one is happy about it, everybody wants to see a change,” Ghoddos says. “It’s a change that is very easy. What the people want is nothing special, it’s just freedom. I don’t want to say ‘Yeah, go fight for it’ because I don’t think violence is the right way. But something has to change and this has been going on for too long.
“But I don’t know if it’s the right decision to kick us out. I don’t know if anything will change because of that. It’s better to change what the real problem is, not to kick the football side out of the World Cup.”
His own journey to a second World Cup, having been part of the group the fell at the first hurdle in Russia four years ago, has been atypical.
Born in Malmo to Iranian parents, Ghoddos played in a pair of friendlies for Sweden but had grown frustrated by their selection policy. So when a call from Carlos Queiroz, recently returned to a second spell as Iran head coach, to join a training camp arrived in 2017 there was little hesitation.
It was the first time Ghoddos had set foot in the country of his elders and, though he was steeped in the culture from childhood, he describes that initial experience as “amazing.” It enabled him to spend time with his grandparents, from the south-western city of Ahvaz, and meet cousins for the first time.
He was taken back by how passionate the supporters were and Queiroz’s unpressured approach made the decision to transfer an easy one.
The former Manchester United assistant told Ghoddos that he would only train on that first camp because it would give him more time to think about committing his future. This was simply too big a decision to rush into.
“I heard about these players who get one minute and then they’re stuck, then they can’t change if they want to change. And I really appreciated the way he did that,” Ghoddos says.
Upon hearing of Iran’s interest, Sweden sought to lock him in. “It felt like it’s a bit too late,” he adds. “That approach, I didn’t like it. So I said I want to play for Iran. I made my decision.”
That has been Team Melli’s gain.
Ghoddos says they are more than comfortable being big underdogs against England on Monday but Gareth Southgate’s team should expect to find a side that is difficult to break down and quietly confident that there is more depth and talent in their ranks than ever before.
This will be Iran’s sixth World Cup but they are yet to make it out of a group stage. In the past lone star players have not had strong support casts but there are more options this time. Sardar Azmoun and Mehdi Taremi, with Champions League experience, lead an attack supported by former Brighton player Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
And being a Queiroz team, defensive organisation should be assured. For weeks the head coach has been sending Ghoddos video clips with instructions around how to handle and attack specific opponents.
“It's very tactical but the message he is sending is very clear and very easy,” he says. “I think this is the best squad Iran has ever had. Everybody can see we have a better team.”
Taking on England adds another personal layer to Ghoddos’ tournament. The domestic players at Brentford have been jabbing him about their opening game but his primary aim is clear – to help Iran into the knockout stages and perhaps give those on the streets of Tehran and beyond a reason to come together in celebration rather than consternation.
