Iran to drop tattooed footballers from team

The Iranian footballers who have tattooes will be banned from the national team, according to media reports.

Tehran: The Iranian football federation has been asked to drop tattooed players from the national team, a media report said.

The Ethics Committee of Iran's Football Federation had issued repeated warnings to players, saying that having a tattoo was unprofessional.

The Iranian players, who have tattoos on their arms, always enter the playing field with long-sleeved tops.

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Ashkan Dejagah and Sardar Azmoon had been summoned by the Ethics Committee for revealing tattoos on their arms during Team Melli's games.

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Iran considers athletes to be role models responsible for promoting "Islamic values" to the younger generation.

Iranian state media often refers to tattoos as a symbol of "Westernisation" or part of a Western "cultural invasion" of the Islamic society.

"Tattoos on the bodies of players is against Iranian culture and is detrimental to our society," a top official said.