You got to feel for the valiant Iranians who gave everything they got, till the final whistle against Portugal ruled them out of the FIFA World Cup 2018. Sadly, a draw was not enough to see them through to the knockouts. However, the Iranians bowed out with their head held high as they garnered massive praise from supporters all over the world for challenging the might of the Spanish and Portuguese.
While watching these heroes go out of the competition made us sad, there is another incident which is breaking our hearts.
According to The Sun, Iran striker Sardar Azmoun announced his retirement from international football claiming that the insults he had to face after Iran’s World Cup exit has ruined his mother’s health. He revealed the same in an Instagram post.
“Playing in my national team has been a great honour for me and I will be proud of myself to the end of my days. Unfortunately… I have come to the decision to say goodbye to my national team.”
Azmoun who plays for Rubin Kazan at the club level, is just 23 years old.
Labeling the decision as the most painful one of his life, Azmoun added that his mother had recovered from her illness and he was a happy man. But because of being subjected to abuse by some people, his mother’s illness has become severe once again.
“This is one of the most painful and significant life decisions for a youth of 23, who faced great hardships to get here.”
“My mother had overcome a serious illness and I was happy, but unfortunately because of the unkindness of some people, and the insults that me and my team mates in no way deserved, her illness has become severe.”
According to the Iranian, the situation asked him to choose between his country and his mother and he chose the latter.
“This has put me in a difficult position where I must pick one or the other — and as a result I pick my mother.”
Without a shade of doubt, Sardar Azmoun was the most promising youngster in the Iranian ranks. The extremely talented footballer was also tipped to be the successor of Iranian legend Ali Daei who is also the leading goalscorer in international football history with 109 goals to his name. The number 20’s retirement has come as a massive blow for the country and they have themselves to blame.