The Iranian opposition reports that the home of Ali Karimi, an Iranian football star who expressed sympathy for the ongoing protests and called for the overthrow of the Ayatollah regime, has been confiscated by the authorities.
43-year-old Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki, who earned himself the nickname “Asian Maradona”, hasn’t lived in Iran for a long time. He was born in Shahriar (west of Tehran). From childhood he loved football. In adulthood, he played as a midfielder alongside an attacking plan. In 2004 he was recognized as the best Asian footballer. He played for the Iranian national team at the 2006 World Cup. Karimi made 112 appearances for the Iranian national team and scored 36 goals.
On June 17, 2009, Ali Karimi played his last match against the South Korean national team for the Iranian national team. He was suspended for life from the national team along with Mehdi Mahdavikia, Hossein Kaabi and Wahid Hashemian for taking the field against South Korea with the green bands symbolizing support for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s main rival, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, in the presidential elections in Iran.
In August 2010, Iranian club “Steel Azin” was expelled from the team, as it refused to fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
He played for the Munich club Bayern. Then he signed a contract with the German club Schalke 04.
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