Italian coach Andrea Stramaccioni describes the arrest of his former footballer Voria Ghafouri who has been placed under custody in Iran and charged with ‘spreading propaganda.’
Ghafouri was the captain of Stramaccioni’s team Esteghlal FC in 2019. The Italian tactician, a former Inter and Udinese coach, is one of Rai Sport’s pundits in Qatar and described the arrest of his former player.
“I am shocked, I spoke to some friends of mine in Teheran. Ghafour was arrested in front of his 10-year-old son and his wife who is very worried like all of us,” the 46-year-old said.
“He was my captain, a great guy, a legend of Esteghlal. Something similar to what Javier Zanetti is for Inter.
“I make this comparison because both are right-backs and icons. He is always on the front line, especially for charity causes. I suffer because of this news, and I am frustrated. I spoke to some players, trying to understand how to help him. He did nothing. He did what we’ve all done in a free world.
“These are difficult moments and I hope football can help in this situation. I hope this situation will be solved.”
Ghafouri, 35, has 26 international caps to his name but was not called up by his national team for the World Cup.
Stramaccioni won 31 of his 65 games in charge of Inter between 2012 and 2013 and became the first coach to win at the Allianz Stadium in Turin against Juventus.
He was appointed by Udinese in 2014 but won just 12 games out of 41 in charge of the Bianconeri. Overall, he’s won 31 Serie A games from 85, drawing 19 and losing 35.
He has continued his career in the far east coaching Esteghlal FC and Qatari side Al-Gharafa SC.
I stand with Voria Ghafouri.
So he has coached and presumably lived there yet is ‘shocked’ by the actions of the government?