Family of Iranian soccer legend who supported protests not allowed to leave

Luke Gentile

December 27, 05:36 PM December 27, 05:36 PM

The family of a prominent former Iranian soccer player has reportedly been blocked from leaving the country after the player openly supported anti-government protests.

Ali Daei, who captained the Iranian national team between 2000 and 2006, said his wife and daughter were stopped from leaving Iran on Monday.

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The pair had legally been on a plane that made a surprise stop on its way to Dubai. The flight, which had left Tehran, landed on on the Iranian Kish Island and Daei's wife and daughter were subsequently questioned by authorities. Daei's passport was briefly seized earlier this year, he said.

His daughter was released, Daei explained, but the status of his wife has not been confirmed. Daei's wife was subjected to a travel ban in early December as a result of her open support for the protests in Iran.

She had attempted to illegally bypass the ban and travel to the United States, the report noted, citing the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

Iran has been embroiled in protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after not adhering to Iran's strict dress code.