Iran shuts down football commentator's platforms after World Cup criticism

Iranian authorities have shut down the website and app of prominent football commentator Adel Ferdosipour, a move that has sparked outrage and frustration. Ferdosipour's popular program, "Football 360," which previously hosted stars like Andrés Iniesta, was broadcast on his website and app.

The crackdown came after Ferdosipour openly criticized the Iranian national football team's performance during the World Cup and the team's coach, Amir Ghalenoei. He also spoke about the pressure he faced from figures like Ghalenoei, becoming emotional as he questioned the authorities' actions.

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Why don’t you let people work in this country?

"Why don't you let people work in this country?" Ferdosipour asked on his YouTube channel, where a clip of his emotional plea has gone viral on social media. He accused the authorities of having a "low ceiling" and being unable to tolerate anything, despite controlling all media and resources.

Reports suggest the platforms were shut down following pressure from coach Ghalenoei, aiming to silence Ferdosipour. This is not the first time Ferdosipour has faced repercussions for his commentary. In 2019, he was fired from his long-running state TV program "Navad" after nearly two decades, reportedly due to his criticism of government interference in football clubs and conflicts with the channel's management. In 2024, his live Champions League broadcasts were also interrupted and shut down by Iran's media authority.

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Your ceiling is so low that you cannot tolerate anything. You have all the media and all the resources, but you are so small that you cannot even tolerate a website and an app.