‘You know what’s possible’: Iran international before England game
Image: Imago
Winfried Schäfer worked as a football coach in Iran. He talks about the imprisoned professional Vouria Ghafuri, the influence of the regime, an alternative to FIFA and the duel with the USA.
Mr Schäfer, from autumn 2017 to spring 2019 you coached FC Esteghlal in Tehran. What goes through your mind when you think of your then player Woria Ghafuri? He was detained for days and was released on bail on Tuesday morning.
I am concerned and have contacted his family through friends. Woria is a great person. He has always set high standards for himself and his team. In the past he has repeatedly criticized politics, but without attacking the regime directly. I remember two moments when I was in Iran when he used his position as one of the country’s most popular players to point out grievances. One was about earthquake victims, the other about polluted groundwater that led to a serious health crisis in a province. Last week he was arrested in front of his children after training with his team.