Latest news with #Azmoun
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Footballer pays best hotel fees to shelter Iranians as Israel conflict rages on
Former Roma and Bayer Leverkusen star Sardar Azmoun has stepped forward to help fellow Iranians who have been urged to evacuate the country's major cities amid the conflict with Israel An international footballer has vowed to pay for shelter for Iranians fleeing major cities as the country's conflict with Israel escalates. Israel began targeting Iran's nuclear and military sites last week, with Iran responding by firing missiles of its own. Israel and US President Donald Trump have since urged Iranians to evacuate the country's biggest cities, especially the capital, Tehran. However, that is easier said than done for Iranians who do not have second homes in less-populated parts of the country. That has led to Iran international and former Bayer Leverkusen forward Sardar Azmoun stepping forward to offer a month's free accommodation to evacuees. Azmoun, 30, who is the highest-paid Iranian footballer and was once linked to Liverpool, took to Instagram to make his generous offer. He wrote: "I hope that we may return to brighter and more peaceful days, my proud and dear people. "In these sensitive times, I tried to arrange a space for the temporary housing of families in Gonbad-e-Kavus, which I have now been able to do. "First priority is for families with infants, children and the elderly. If you are from anywhere in Iran, especially Tehran, Tabriz, Kermanshah, Esfahan or Shiraz, I will arrange one-month free stay in the best hotel in Gonbad-e-Kavus." Gonbad-e-Kavus, in northern Iran, has a population of around 150,000. Hotels in this region are relatively inexpensive, with the cheapest rates starting from around £5 per night. On Thursday, Israel carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, in its latest attack on the country's nuclear programme. It's the seventh day of a conflict that began with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites, senior officers and nuclear scientists. A Washington-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 1,300 wounded. In retaliation, Iran has fired some 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, will travel to Geneva for the meetings on Friday to meet counterparts from Germany, France and the UK. European diplomats, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the meetings. "All sides must show restraint, refrain from taking steps which lead to further escalation in the region, and return to diplomacy," a joint statement issued on Wednesday by France, Germany, the UK and the EU read. Azmoun, meanwhile, used to play his club football in Russia until 2022, when he joined Leverkusen before a loan spell at Roma. He now plays for Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE Pro League and is reportedly earning a yearly salary of £3million.
Khaleej Times
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
UAE suffer blow to Fifa World Cup hopes with defeat to Iran
The UAE suffered a big blow to their 2026 Fifa World Cup hopes as The Whites lost 2-0 to Iran in their crucial qualifying match on Thursday. Iran, on the other hand, moved within a point of sealing a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance with their win in Tehran as Sardar Azmoun and Mohammad Mohebbi scored for the home team. Iran nearly capitalised on a defensive error from UAE in the fifth minute when Mehdi Ghayedi clipped a pass towards Azmoun, who chested the ball perfectly for Mohebbi but Khalid Eisa stood tall to deny the FC Rostov forward from point-blank range. A floodlight failure brought the match to a temporary halt in the 10th minute with the match only resuming in the 40th minute with Caio Lucas flashing a shot just wide in the 45th minute as 29 minutes were added by the referee at the end of the first half. Iran threatened again after Saman Ghoddos fed Roozbeh Cheshmi on the edge of the box but the 31-year-old's effort in the fourth minute of added time was comfortably collected by Eisa. A quick break in the 20th minute of added time saw Alireza Beiranvand pulling off a big stop to prevent Mackenzie Hunt from putting UAE ahead after the midfielder was put through by Yahya Al Ghassani. The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute of added time, Ghoddos with a delicate chip pass for Azmoun to nod home from close range. Despite a period of sustained UAE pressure, Iran sealed the win after Mohebbi showed a good turn of pace to speed past Kouame Kouadio before firing a shot past Eisa. The UAE, who will face North Korea on Tuesday, remain third in the group with 10 points from seven matches. Asia has eight direct slots for the next Fifa World Cup which will be a 48-team tournament. Eighteen teams have been divided into three groups of six each in the third round of the Asian qualifiers. The UAE have been drawn in Group A with Qatar, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and North Korea. South Korea, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait are competing in Group B while Group C features Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China and Indonesia. The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the World Cup. The third and fourth-placed teams in each group will then compete in the six-team fourth round of qualifiers. The six teams in the fourth round will be divided into two groups of three teams. The winners of each group will earn the last two direct slots for the World Cup, while the two runners-up teams will be locked in a playoff battle. The winner of the Asian playoff will then advance to an inter-confederation playoff tournament featuring five other teams for the final two slots in the World Cup. (With inputs from AFC)
